Ethnic Kawasaki Disease Risk Associated with Blood Mercury and Cadmium in U.S. Children.

ABSTRACT: Kawasaki disease (KD) primarily affects children <5 years of age (75%-80%) and is currently the leading cause of acquired heart disease in developed nations. Even when residing in the West, East Asian children are 10 to 20 times more likely to develop KD. We hypothesized cultural variations influencing pediatric mercury (Hg) exposure from seafood consumption may mediate ethnic KD risk among children in the United States. Hospitalization rates of KD in US children aged 0-4 years (n = 10,880) and blood Hg levels in US children aged 1-5 years (n = 713) were determined using separate US federal datasets. Our cohort primarily presented with blood Hg levels <0.1 micrograms (µg) per kg bodyweight (96.5%) that are considered normal and subtoxic. Increased ethnic KD risk was significantly associate

SUBMITTER: Yeter D 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4730492 | biostudies-literature | 2016 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature