The Future of Kawasaki Disease Diagnosis: Liquid Biopsy May Hold the Key
Kasturi Markandran1, Kristine Nicole Mendoza Clemente1, Elena Tan2
1Department of Paediatrics, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore 119228, Singapore.
Insights
Diagnosing Kawasaki disease (KD) is challenging. This study explores using "liquid biopsies" with endothelial injury biomarkers for earlier KD diagnosis and better patient outcomes.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Cardiovascular Research
- Biomarker Discovery
Background:
- Kawasaki disease (KD) is a critical pediatric illness causing systemic inflammation in blood vessels.
- Delayed diagnosis and treatment of KD increase the risk of serious coronary artery lesions.
- Current KD diagnosis presents significant clinical challenges.
Purpose of the Study:
- To summarize research gaps in Kawasaki disease.
- To evaluate circulating endothelial injury biomarkers as potential diagnostic and prognostic tools for KD.
- To explore the potential of a "liquid biopsy" approach for KD management.
Main Methods:
- Review of current research on Kawasaki disease diagnosis.
- Evaluation of endothelial injury biomarkers: circulating endothelial cells, endothelial microparticles, and cell-free DNA.
- Analysis of the challenges and opportunities in translating liquid biopsy techniques for KD.
Main Results:
- Existing diagnostic methods for KD remain a clinical dilemma.
- Circulating endothelial injury biomarkers show promise as diagnostic and prognostic indicators.
- Liquid biopsies offer a potential "blood test" approach for KD.
Conclusions:
- Endothelial damage markers obtained via blood draw are a promising avenue for KD diagnosis.
- Translating liquid biopsy technology could significantly improve KD diagnosis and management.
- Further research is needed to implement these biomarkers in clinical practice for Kawasaki disease.
Abstract:
Kawasaki disease (KD) is a febrile illness characterised by systemic inflammation of small- and medium-sized blood vessels, which commonly occurs in young children. Although self-limiting, there is a risk of developing coronary artery lesions as the disease progresses, with delay in diagnosis and treatment. Unfortunately, the diagnosis of KD continues to remain a clinical dilemma. Thus, this article not only summarises the key research gaps associated with KD, but also evaluates the possibility of using circulating endothelial injury biomarkers, such as circulating endothelial cells, endothelial microparticles and vascular endothelial cell-free DNA, as diagnostic and prognostic tools for KD: a "liquid biopsy" approach. The challenges of translating liquid biopsies to use in KD and the opportunities for improvement in its diagnosis and management that such translation may provide are discussed. The use of endothelial damage markers, which are easily obtained via blood collection, as diagnostic tools is promising, and we hope this will be translated to clinical applications in the near future.
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