Boston Children's Hospital Reports Findings in Kawasaki Disease (Elevation of IL-17 Cytokines Distinguishes Kawasaki Disease From Other Pediatric Inflammatory Disorders).

A recent study conducted at Boston Children's Hospital aimed to identify diagnostic markers that can distinguish Kawasaki disease (KD) from other pediatric inflammatory diseases. The researchers used a proximity extension assay to analyze plasma samples from various patient groups and found that elevation of interleukin-17 (IL-17) cytokines, particularly IL-17A, was a distinguishing factor in KD. This elevation was observed in over 50% of KD patients, including those with coronary artery aneurysms. The findings suggest that IL-17 cytokines could serve as a hallmark for differentiating KD from its clinical mimics. [Extracted from the article]