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Kawasaki disease: diagnosis, management and cardiac sequelae

Louise Wood1, Robert Tulloh

  • 1Bristol Royal Hospital for Children, Bristol Congenital Heart Centre, Bristol, UK. louise.wood@ubht.nhs.uk

Expert Review of Cardiovascular Therapy
|May 11, 2007
PubMed

Insights

Kawasaki disease (KD) is a childhood vasculitis causing coronary artery issues. Early treatment with immunoglobulin and aspirin significantly reduces cardiac complications in affected children.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Cardiology
  • Rheumatology
  • Immunology

Background:

  • Kawasaki disease (KD) is an acute, self-limiting vasculitis of unknown cause.
  • It is the leading cause of acquired pediatric coronary artery disease in children aged 6 months to 5 years.
  • Inflammation can lead to coronary arteritis, aneurysms, thrombosis, and sudden death.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To summarize the current understanding of Kawasaki disease.
  • To highlight the effectiveness of current treatments.
  • To discuss potential new therapeutic strategies.

Main Methods:

  • Review of existing literature on Kawasaki disease.
  • Analysis of treatment outcomes, particularly cardiac complications.
  • Discussion of emerging pharmacological interventions.

Main Results:

  • Diagnostic tests for KD are not yet established.
  • Intravenous immunoglobulin and aspirin therapy effectively decrease cardiac complications from 25% to 4.7% in the UK.
  • Long-term cardiac sequelae, including myocardial, endocardial, or pericardial inflammation, may necessitate ongoing management.

Conclusions:

  • Kawasaki disease requires prompt recognition and management to prevent severe cardiac morbidity.
  • Current treatments are effective in mitigating acute complications.
  • New therapeutic agents show promise for managing KD in pediatric and young adult populations.

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