Coronary arterial calcification in Kawasaki disease

The purpose of this paper is to describe the clinical characteristics and significance of the coronary arterial calcification due to Kawasaki disease (KD), based on our five patients. The coronary arterial lesions (CAL) were in segments 1, 2, 5, 6 and 11 according to the classification of the American Heart Association. The interval from the onset to the first appearance of coronary calcification was 17 months to 61 months. Progression of CAL into coronary arterial stenosis or myocardial infarction occurred in all five patients. In the comparative study between the patients with calcified CAL and those with non-calcified CAL, the maximal size of CAL of the former was 8 mm or larger in contrast with that of the latter (less than 8 mm). It is concluded that coronary arterial calcification is one of the important signs which suggest the presence of the advanced CAL in the follow-up of children with a history of KD.