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.