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Brainstem Auditory Evoked Potentials and Visual Potentials in Kawasaki Disease: An Observational Monocentric Study
Maria Cristina Maggio1, Giovanni Corsello1, Giuseppe Salvo1
1University Department PROMISE of Health Promotion Sciences Maternal and Infantile Care, Internal Medicine and Medical Specialities "G. D'Alessandro", University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy.
Insights
Kawasaki Disease can affect brainstem auditory evoked potentials, potentially indicating a higher risk of coronary artery lesions. Visual evoked potentials were not significantly correlated with coronary artery damage in children.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Neurology
- Rheumatology
Background:
- Kawasaki Disease is a systemic vasculitis primarily affecting coronary arteries.
- Rarely, it can involve central nervous system arteries, leading to vasculitic neuropathy, sensorineural hearing loss, and evoked potential alterations.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the correlation between evoked potential abnormalities and clinical/radiological data in children with Kawasaki Disease.
- To assess the association between brainstem auditory evoked potentials (BAEPs) and visual evoked potentials (VEPs) with coronary artery lesions.
Main Methods:
- An observational, monocentric study included 59 children with Kawasaki Disease.
- BAEPs and VEPs were evaluated in the acute phase and during follow-up.
- Data were correlated with clinical, hematological, and radiological findings.
Main Results:
- Evoked potential abnormalities were found in 66% of patients (39/59).
- BAEP abnormalities (altered waves/latencies) were observed in 69% of those with altered potentials.
- Abnormalities in BAEPs, but not VEPs, were associated with an increased risk of coronary artery lesions.
Conclusions:
- Abnormalities in brainstem auditory evoked potentials are linked to an increased risk of coronary artery lesions in Kawasaki Disease.
- Visual evoked potential abnormalities were not significantly correlated with coronary artery damage.
Abstract:
Background: Kawasaki Disease is a systemic vasculitis, particularly involving coronary arteries. Rare involvement of other vascular districts is described, as central nervous system arteries, leading to a vasculitic neuropathy. Sensorineural hearing loss and alterations of evoked potentials are uncommonly reported complications. Methods: In an observational monocentric study, 59 children (37 males; 22 females; mean age: 2.7 ± 2.2 years) with documented Kawasaki Disease were enrolled. No risk factors for hearing loss and/or neurological impairment were identified in the cohort. Brainstem auditory evoked potentials and visual evoked potentials were correlated with clinical, hamatological and radiological data, evaluated in the acute phase of the Kawasaki Disease, and during the follow-up. Results: Evoked potentials were altered in 39/59 patients (66%): of these, 27/39 (69%) showed altered IV and V waves and/or III-V interwave latencies of brainstem auditory evoked potentials; 4/39 (10%) showed pathological visual evoked potentials; 8/39 (21%) had abnormalities of both brainstem auditory evoked potentials and visual evoked potentials. No permanent deafness was reported. Conclusion: Abnormalities in visual evoked potentials were not significantly correlated with coronary artery lesions; however, the presence of abnormalities of brainstem auditory evoked potentials were associated with the risk of coronary artery lesions.
