[Circulating interleukin-4 levels in acute phase Kawasaki disease].

We have measured the plasma levels of IL-4 in patients with Kawasaki disease, serially. The results were as follows: The plasma levels of IL-4 from patients with Kawasaki disease in acute phase (median 17 pg/ml) were significantly higher than those from the patients in convalescent phase (median 1.96 pg/ ml, p = 0.001) or from control children (median 7.64 pg/ml, p = 0.001). These findings imply that Th2 (or Tho) cells may be vigorously stimulated at an acute phase of this disease, and that IL-4 produced by these cells may possibly modulate the pathological conditions of this disease.