The role of iron in children with Kawasaki disease (KD) and the importance of iron deficiency anemia (IDA) in children with KD are not fully known. We aimed to evaluate the effects of IDA on clinical outcomes of KD patients and the role of inflammation-induced hepcidin and leptin in the development of anemia in patients with KD. Methods: A total of 50 children with KD and 47 age-matched children with controls were enrolled. Hepcidin, leptin, tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and interleukin-6

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... 6) levels were measured by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and IDA work-up was performed before and after IVIG therapy, and in the convalescent phase in patients with KD and control patients. Results: (1) Pre-IVIG iron and transferrin saturations in KD children were significantly lower than those in controls ( P =0.001). ( 2 ) Pre-IVIG hemoglobin and iron levels were positively correlated with leptin levels ( P =0.018 and P =0.021, respectively). (3) Serum hepcidin levels were significantly elevated after IVIG treatment in patients with KD (1.53 ± 1.36 ng/ml in the acute stage vs 3.09 ± 4.22 ng/mL in the subacute phase, P = 0.001). ( 4 ) There was no difference in parameters of IDA, leptin, and hepcidin levels between KD patients with and without coronary artery lesion (CAL). Conclusion: Serum iron and transferrin saturations were lowest in the acute phase, while hepcidin levels were highest in the subacute phase of KD. Although the presence of iron deficiency in the acute stage of KD did not predict CAL, further studies are necessary to clarify the association of hepcidin on the pathogenesis of anemia in KD.