Macrophage migration inhibitory factor gene polymorphisms in an Italian cohort of patients with Kawasaki disease

Results The average age at disease onset was 29 months (range, 3– 135 months). There were 43 females (33.3%) and 26 (20.2%) males. Eight children (12%) were non-responders to the first IVIG infusion. Nine children (13%) had coronary alterations (ectasia or aneurysms). Statistical analysis for MIF genotyping did not show significant differences between patients and controls, both for allelic and genotypic frequencies. However KD patients carrying a MIF -173*C allele developed CAA more frequently than those without these alleles (7/9 77.8% vs 16/44 26.7%, p < 0.005) and the MIF -173*CC homozygosis resulted more frequent in children with CAA than those without (2/9 CC 22.2% vs 2/60 CC: 3.3%, p < 0.004). Moreover, non-responders to a single IVIG infusion carried the MIF 173*C allele more frequently than responders (6/8 = 75% vs 17/61 = 28%, p < 0.014).