Follistatin like protein (FSTL-1) levels are elevated in acute Kawasaki Disease and may differentiate between patients with and without aneurysm formation

Purpose Kawasaki Disease is the most common vasculitis of childhood, and carries considerable morbidity with risk of development of coronary artery aneurysms. Serological predictors of the development of coronary artery aneurysms have not yet been found. FSTL-1 is a proinflammatory protein which is produced by mesenchymal tissue, including cardiac myocytes, and has been found to be elevated in inflammatory disorders such as Juvenile Idiopathic Arthri tis. The current study was designed to determine if plasma levels of FSTL-1 correlate with the development of Kawasaki Disease and development of coronary artery aneurysms. Methods