Treatment of Kawasaki disease using locally product intravenous immunoglobulin

Kawasaki disease (KD) is an acute febrile illness of unknown origin. Several kinds of IVIG have been shown to be effective in the decrease of the incidence of coronary artery abnormalities (CAA) which is the most serious complication. Nowadays, the National Blood Centre, Thai Red Cross Society can manufacture IVIG from the plasma of Thai blood donors which is much cheaper than the imported intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG's). The effectiveness of this Thai Red-Cross IVIG in Kawasaki disease has never been documented.

To determine the initial treatment response and prevalence of CAA in KD treated with a high dose (2 g/kg) of Thai Red-Cross IVIG.

All patients with a diagnosis of KD who had initial treatment with 2 g/kg of Thai Red-Cross IVIG at Queen Sirikit National Institute of Child Health from December 2001 to February 2003 were reviewed retrospectively.

All 22 cases (100%) had good response to a single treatment with a high dose of IVIG. The only patient who did not complete the IVIG treatment had a severe reaction following the administration of the drug and needed discontinuation and intervention. During the convalescent phase, there were only 2 cases (9.09%) with CAA in the first month and 1 case (4.55%) at the 3-month follow-up. This only case with CAA at 3 months had multiple aneurysms at the left main and left anterior descending coronary arteries. No giant aneurysms were found in the present study.

The efficacy of a high dose (2 g/kg) of Thai Red-Cross IVIG in Kawasaki disease is excellent. However, the severe reaction in one patient needs further surveillance.