Lymphocyte subpopulations in Kawasaki disease

The relative percentages of subpopulations of peripheral T lymphocytes in children with Kawasaki Disease (KD) was investigated using matched antibodies directed against the T3, T4 and T8 antigens. The percentage of B cells was determined with antibodies against human surface immunoglobulins. Subjects were six children with acute KD who were compared to normal, age-matched controls. The percentage of peripheral lymphocytes positive for OKT3 was 61% for KD children and 64% for controls; for OKT4 they were 41% and 44% respectively and for OKT8 both were 19%. The B cell percentages were 13% in KD and 11% in controls. Thus no abnormalities in the distribution of lymphocyte subtypes in children with KD was found. Previous studies of immune function in KD are reviewed.