Vasculitis, Kawasaki disease, and hemolytic uremic syndrome

Aside from Henoch-Schönlein purpura and Kawasaki disease, vasculitis in childhood is rare. The etiology, clinical characteristics, and therapy of Kawasaki disease continue to be important areas of investigation, and a number of important observations recently were published. Recent clinical descriptions of other vasculitis disorders such as cutaneous polyarteritis and Wegener's granulomatosis are also reviewed in this article. Hemolytic uremic syndrome is an acute disorder of childhood characterized by thrombocytopenia, microangiopathic hemolytic anemia, and acute nephropathy. Treatment of children with severe manifestations of hemolytic uremic syndrome with plasma exchange therapy in addition to traditional supportive approaches is proving to be life saving in many cases.