Detection of Kawasaki disease-associated antigen in inflamed gastrointestinal tract in acute Kawasaki disease.

We performed immunohistochemistry experiments using synthetic antibodies on the gastrointestinal tract and kidney from acute Kawasaki disease patients. Significant gastrointestinal tract inflammation was present in only 2/7 patients, who had antigen detected at the site of inflammation. Antigen was not detected in kidney from 6 patients. The presence of antigen may be related to gastrointestinal pathology in acute Kawasaki disease.