Antineutrophil cytoplasm antibodies in Kawasaki disease.

Abstract

Autoantibodies against components of neutrophil cytoplasm develop during adult vasculitic diseases such as Wegener's granulomatosis and microscopic polyarteritis, and they are predominantly of the IgG class. Similar but distinct antibodies have been described in children with Kawasaki disease and both IgM and IgG class antibodies are represented. This adds another clinically distinct childhood form of vasculitis to the adult forms in which autoantibodies to neutrophil cytoplasmic antigens have been detected.