Expression of Fc epsilon R2/CD23 on peripheral blood macrophages/monocytes in Kawasaki disease.

We analyzed the expression of Fc epsilon R2/CD23 on peripheral blood macrophages/monocytes in 12 patients with Kawasaki disease (KD) using a fluorescence-activated cell sorter. The absolute counts of CD14+ macrophages/monocytes and CD23+ macrophages/monocytes were high, and were positively correlated during the acute stage of KD. These results indicate that the increased number of macrophages/monocytes during acute KD have the Fc epsilon R2/CD23 antigen present on the surface of the cells, suggesting that peripheral blood macrophages/monocytes have been activated.