Aerobic exercise function of patients with persistent coronary artery aneurysms secondary to Kawasaki disease

Nine patients with persistent coronary artery aneurysms 1.7-14.0 years after an episode of Kawasaki disease underwent progressive bicycle ergometry with expiratory gas analysis. Two of the patients had aneurysms complicated by angiographically documented coronary artery stenosis. Results of the exercise tests were compared to those obtained from a group of age- and gender-matched normal control subjects. The Kawasaki disease patients did not differ significantly from the control subjects with regard to peak oxygen consumption (81 +/- 7% versus 79 +/- 12% predicted), peak workload (75 +/- 13% versus 77 +/- 9% predicted), anaerobic threshold (21.9 +/- 6.5 versus 18.9 +/- 4.0 ml/kg per minute) or oxygen pulse (96 +/- 7% versus 90 +/- 14% predicted). None of the patients developed significant ST segment changes or rhythm disturbances during exercise. The exercise function of the patients with coronary artery stenosis did not differ from that of patients without stenosis. It was concluded that the aerobic exercise function of patients with persistent coronary artery aneurysms after an episode of Kawasaki disease appears to be well preserved. Kawasaki disease patients with significant coronary artery pathology are not accurately identified by a single assessment of aerobic exercise function.