Infliximab treatment for refractory kawasaki disease in korean children

Min Seob Song1, Sang Bum Lee, Sejung Sohn

  • 1Department of Pediatrics, Paik Hospital, College of Medicine, Inje University, Busan, Korea.

Insights

Infliximab effectively treated refractory Kawasaki disease in Korean children, with most patients showing fever resolution and reduced inflammation. The treatment also appeared to prevent further coronary artery damage.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Rheumatology
  • Immunology

Background:

  • Kawasaki disease (KD) is a critical pediatric illness.
  • Refractory KD cases require alternative treatment strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate infliximab's effectiveness in Korean pediatric patients with refractory KD.
  • To assess the impact of infliximab on coronary artery abnormalities in KD.

Main Methods:

  • Retrospective analysis of 16 Korean pediatric patients with refractory KD treated with infliximab.
  • Data collected on patient response, C-reactive protein (CRP) levels, and coronary artery (CA) status.

Main Results:

  • 13 out of 16 patients achieved complete fever response.
  • CRP levels decreased post-infliximab infusion.
  • No significant progression of coronary artery lesions observed after treatment, though some initial abnormalities persisted.

Conclusions:

  • Infliximab shows promise as a treatment for refractory KD in pediatric patients.
  • Further multicenter trials with long-term follow-up are needed to confirm efficacy and safety.
Abstract

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