Kawasaki syndrome: the Iranian experience

Experience with 50 cases of Kawasaki syndrome in the Islamic Republic of Iran is presented. The syndrome occurred mostly in winter and spring with a 2.1:1 male:female ratio. In 72% of cases, the disease occurred between 1 and 5 years of age, and 80% had an antecedent viral or bacterial illness. Eight patents (16%) had microbiological evidence of infection and 19 (38%) had clinical evidence. Five patients had clinical and radiological evidence of sinusitis. Leukocytosis, neutrophilia, bandaemia, elevated erythrocyte sedimentation rate, positive C-reactive protein, reversed albumin/globulin ratio and increased antistreptolysin O titre were other indications of infection and inflammation. Male gender, prolonged fever, white blood cell count > 15,000/mm3 and absolute granulocyte count > 10,000/mm3 were significant risk factors for the development of coronary artery disease (10 patients).