Abstract:OBJECTIVE: This study examined serum level of heart-type fatty acid-binding protein (h-FABP) in children with Kawasaki disease (KD) in order to assess its value in KD. METHODS: Forty children with KD and 30 healthy children were enrolled. Serum levels of h-FABP and cardiac troponin I (cTnI) were measured using ELISA. Serum creatine kinase-MB (CK-MB) level was detected using an autoanalyer. The KD group was classified into two subgroups, with or without coronary artery lesions, based on the findings of the echocardiography. RESULTS: Mean serum levels of h-FABP (18.17±13.38 ng/mL vs 6.25±1.70 ng/mL; P<0.01) and cTnI (0.27±0.22 ng/mL vs 0.11±0.02 ng/mL; P<0.05) in the KD group was significantly higher than those in the control group. There was no significant difference in serum CK-MB concentrations between the two groups. Twenty-six patients (65%) and eight patients (20%) showed abnormally increased h-FABP and cTnI levels respectively in the KD group, but none of the control group showed increased levels of both. In the KD group, the percentage of patients with increased h-FABP was significantly higher than those with increased CTnI (P<0.01). The patients with coronary artery lesions had higher serum h-FABP level than those without (28.14±14.26 ng/mL vs 11.52±6.28 ng/mL; P<0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Serum levels of h-FABP and cTnI increase and can be used as the biomarkers of myocardial damage in children with KD. h-FABP appears to be more sensitive and specific. Detection of serum h-FABP level is useful for diagnosis of KD and coronary artery lesions secondary to KD.
