Reader Comments
Post a new comment on this article
Post Your Discussion Comment
Please follow our guidelines for comments and review our competing interests policy. Comments that do not conform to our guidelines will be promptly removed and the user account disabled. The following must be avoided:
- Remarks that could be interpreted as allegations of misconduct
- Unsupported assertions or statements
- Inflammatory or insulting language
Thank You!
Thank you for taking the time to flag this posting; we review flagged postings on a regular basis.
closeCopy of the press release originally distributed on January 7, 2009
Posted by PLOS_Genetics on 15 Jan 2009 at 10:34 GMT
* Whole genome study reveals clues to solving the mystery behind Kawasaki disease *
A study looking at the entire human genome has identified new genes that appear to be involved in making some children more susceptible to Kawasaki disease, according to a new international study published January 9 in the open-access journal PLoS Genetics. The research team, from The University of Western Australia, the Genome Institute of Singapore, Emma Children's Hospital, The Netherlands, Imperial College London, UK and the University of California San Diego, USA studied naturally occurring genetic variation in almost 900 cases of Kawasaki disease from these countries.
Kawasaki disease is an inflammatory condition in children that affects the mucus membranes, lymph nodes, walls of blood vessels, and the heart. Clinical signs include high fever, rash, and swollen hands and feet with skin peeling. Most importantly, the disease causes damage to the coronary arteries in a quarter of untreated children and may increase the risk of atherosclerosis in early adulthood. The cause of Kawasaki disease is unknown; an infectious etiology is suspected but not proven. There is no diagnostic test and current treatment fails to prevent coronary damage in at least 1 in 10 to 20 children. Kawasaki disease is fatal in approximately 1 in 1000 children.
This is the first genetic study of an infectious disease to examine the whole genome, rather than selected genes. The study shows that genes involved in cardiovascular function and inflammation may be particularly important and some seem to function together. The authors believe these findings could lead to new diagnostics and better treatment and may offer information about adult cardiovascular disease as well.
However, the findings do not yet prove that the new genes are functionally involved. Other genetic variants may be important, especially in different ethnic groups. The authors are now planning detailed studies of the function of these genes and larger collaborative studies including East Asian populations, who are at particular risk of Kawasaki disease, with 1 in 150 Japanese children affected.
RE: Copy of the press release originally distributed on January 7, 2009
PLOS_Genetics replied to PLOS_Genetics on 15 Jan 2009 at 10:42 GMT
The following links provide access to some of the news/blog coverage since publication. The journal is not responsible for the content of external sites; some external sites may require registration to view the full article; readers are welcome to judge the merits of each piece, considered in conjunction with the open-access article, http://www.plosgenetics.o... , for themselves.
- The Times: http://www.timesonline.co...
- UPI: http://www.upi.com/Health...
- ABC (Australia): http://www.abc.net.au/new...
- The Australian: http://www.theaustralian....
- The Independent Weekly: http://www.independentwee...
- The West Australian: http://www.thewest.com.au...
- Melbourne Herald Sun: http://www.news.com.au/he...
- Perth's A Current Affair: http://www.perthaca.com.a...
- The Hindu: http://www.hindu.com/theh...
- The Times of India: http://timesofindia.india...
- Thaindian News: http://www.thaindian.com/...
- Bangladesh Sun: http://story.bangladeshsu...
- La Jolla Light: http://www.lajollalight.c...
- Yahoo India News: http://in.news.yahoo.com/...
- India Today: http://www.itgo.in/index....
- El Tiempo (Colombia): http://www.eltiempo.com/v...
- Le Scienze (Italy): http://lescienze.espresso...
- El Mundo (Spain): http://www.elmundo.es/sup...
- O Estado de S. Paulo (Brazil): http://www.estadao.com.br...
The article also received extensive TV and radio coverage. A transcript of a report from Radio ABC 720 Perth, including an interview with corresponding author David Burgner, can be found here: http://www.abc.net.au/pm/...