[Biomarker].

The most serious complication of Kawasaki disease(KD) is coronary artery lesions (CAL), which mainly occur in patients with the incomplete form of KD and intravenous gamma-globulin therapy non-responsiveness (IVIG non-responsiveness). Recently, numerous biomarkers for diagnosis of the incomplete form of KD, endothelial dysfunction, and myocardial disturbance, as well as for the prediction of CAL formation and IVIG non- responsiveness, have been reported. However, a useful single biomarker has yet to be described. Pentraxin 3 (PTX3), endothelin-1(ET-1), brain natriuretic peptide(BNP) and N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide are produced and secreted from vascular and/or myocardial tissue, and are very useful for diagnosis of the incomplete form of KD, and for the prediction of IVIG non-responsiveness and CAL formation in the acute phase. Further- more, some biomarkers are helpful for evaluating chronic coronary arteritis and atheroscle- rosis in the convalescent phase of KD.