The Relationship of COX-2 Gene Polymorphisms and Susceptibility to Kawasaki Disease in Chinese Population.

BACKGROUND: Kawasaki disease (KD) is an acute systemic vasculitis that predominantly affects children, and it can result in coronary artery lesions. Cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) is involved in the conversion of arachidonic acid to prostaglandin H2, an important precursor of several prostaglandins. The aim of this study was to examine the association between COX-2 gene polymorphisms and susceptibility to KD.

METHODS: A total of 276 subjects (136 KD and 140 controls) were recruited. The analysis of two single nucleotide polymorphisms rs689466 (-1195G/A) and rs20417 (-765G/C) was respectively detected with polymerase chain reaction sequence-based typing methods.

RESULTS: Polymorphisms of rs689466 were significantly different between the normal controls and KD patients (χ2  = 6.070 and 5.435, both p < 0.05). The frequencies of AA genotype and A allele of rs689466 in Kawasaki disease group were higher than that of control group (χ2  = 4.832, p = 0.028, OR = 1.832, 95%CI = 1.064-3.124; χ2  = 5.435, p = 0.028, OR = 1.491, 95%CI = 1.065-2.088).

CONCLUSION: This study provides the first evidence supporting an association between COX-2 gene polymorphisms and susceptibility of KD. The AA genotype and A allele of rs689466 confer predisposing factors to KD.