What laboratory finding is often associated with Kawasaki syndrome?

In Kawasaki syndrome, the laboratory finding that is often observed is leukocytosis, which refers to an elevated white blood cell count. This finding is significant as it indicates an inflammatory response in the body, which aligns with the clinical presentation of Kawasaki syndrome. This condition is characterized by prolonged fever, rash, conjunctivitis, lymphadenopathy, and potentially serious cardiovascular complications due to vasculitis affecting the coronary arteries.

The inflammatory process in Kawasaki syndrome leads to immune system activation, resulting in leukocytosis as part of the body's response to the disease. Elevated white blood cell counts reflect this response and are commonly seen during the acute phase of the illness.

Other laboratory findings typically associated with Kawasaki syndrome may include elevated inflammatory markers such as C-reactive protein (CRP) and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR). However, leukocytosis is a specific and commonly referenced finding in the literature related to this condition.