Cardiac involvement in Kawasaki disease. Our experience

BACKGROUND: Kawasaki disease is an acute vasculitis of unknown cause that affects children under 5 years of age and in 20-25% of cases can cause coronary artery anomalies. Early therapy with intravenous gamma globulin and aspirin greatly decreases the risk of developing coronary anomalies, but sometimes coronary disease develops even in timely diagnosed and treated cases. METHODS: Personal experience in 41 children with Kawasaki disease is reported. Age was within three months and 5 years. All patients had electrocardiography and echocardiography at diagnosis, after 1 week, at the third, sixth, and eighth week, after six months and after 1 year from diagnosis. Echocardiographic cardiac anomalies were found only in 5 cases (12.19%). Average age in these cases was lower. RESULTS: In these cases coronary involvement developed in spite of early diagnosis and therapy (intravenous gamma globulin 400 mg/kg die and aspirin) electrocardiographic findings were not relevant or specific to coronary arteries anomaly. In three cases coronary anomalies regressed during the first year from diagnosis, the other two are still in the first year of follow-up. Nine children had a long term follow-up (6 to 9 years) and they were all normal except one with renal arteritis and another with slight mitral incompetence. CONCLUSIONS: The authors underline the role of clinical and instrumental follow-up that should be extended to all patients affected by Kawasaki disease with coronary anomalies even if early regressed.     

Classical Kawasaki disease in a neonate

A case is reported of classical Kawasaki disease in an infant younger than 2 weeks of age. Echocardiography detected a coronary artery aneurysm on the fifth day of the illness. Administration of intravenous gamma globulin resulted in rapid improvement. Kawasaki disease is rare in neonates, but it may follow a rapid and severe course.     

Kawasaki disease

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Kawasaki disease is an acute, self-limited vasculitis of childhood characterized by fever, bilateral nonexudative conjunctivitis, erythema of the lips and oral mucosa, changes in the extremities, rash, and cervical lymphadenopathy. Coronary artery aneurysms or ectasia develop in approximately 15 to 25% of untreated children with the disease and may lead to myocardial infarction, sudden death, or ischemic heart disease. RECENT FINDINGS: In the United States, Kawasaki disease has now surpassed acute rheumatic fever as the leading cause of acquired heart disease in children. The cause of Kawasaki disease remains unknown, but fortunately intravenous immune globulin therapy has proved to be effective at reducing the prevalence of coronary aneurysms in most children treated in the acute phase. Therapy for Kawasaki disease resistant to intravenous immune globulin therapy is an area of research and controversy. The long-term treatment of children with Kawasaki disease is dependent on coronary artery status. SUMMARY: This review covers key data on the etiology, pathogenesis, treatment, and long-term outcomes of Kawasaki disease, highlighting recent publications.     

Correlates of coronary artery aneurysm formation in patients with Kawasaki disease

Factors potentially associated with the formation or prevention of coronary artery aneurysms were investigated in 77 children with Kawasaki disease. The patients were divided into two groups. Group A consisted of those who developed coronary artery aneurysms and group B consisted of those who did not. The patients who developed aneurysms had a significantly longer duration of fever and a significantly lower minimum hemoglobin concentration than those who did not develop aneurysm. In patients who developed aneurysms, aspirin therapy was begun significantly later in the course of the illness compared with those who did not develop aneurysms. We suggest that the timing of the initiation of aspirin therapy may be important in the prevention of coronary artery aneurysms in patients with Kawasaki disease. We believe that it may be important to establish the diagnosis of Kawasaki disease as early as possible and to institute aspirin therapy at an appropriate dosage.     

Doppler detection of tricuspid regurgitation following Kawasaki disease

Between June 1984 and April 1985, five patients (4.2%) had tricuspid regurgitation detected on pulsed Doppler echocardiography among 119 patients with Kawasaki disease. The grade of tricuspid regurgitation was moderate in three and mild in two patients; conventional cardiac examinations revealed no evidence of this complication. All patients had associated coronary artery aneurysms except one, but no patients developed subsequent myocardial infarction. The occurrence of tricuspid regurgitation following Kawasaki disease has been considered to be causally related to the carditis, a frequent complication during the acute febrile period of the illness. The present data indicate that tricuspid regurgitation is an additional cardiovascular complication of Kawasaki disease and that Doppler echocardiography is useful in detecting this disorder.     

川崎病合并冠状动脉瘤63例临床分析

目的分析川崎病(KD)合并冠状动脉(以下简称冠脉)瘤患儿的临床特点。方法对首都医科大学附属北京儿童医院2000—2007年收治的63例超声心动图诊断为冠脉瘤的KD患儿临床资料、实验室检查、超声及心电图检查结果、治疗情况及随诊资料进行回顾性分析。结果(1)冠脉瘤患儿男性明显多于女性,男∶女为5.3∶1;冠脉巨大瘤男女比例为8.3∶1;<1岁患儿多发,占28.6%。(2)本组患儿中不完全KD、静脉注射丙种球蛋白(IVIG)抵抗以及KD复发的发生率均较高,分别为36.5%、30.2%和7.9%;急性期57例(90.5%)患儿使用IVIG冲击治疗,3例未用,3例使用情况不详;36例(57.1%)患儿发病至丙种球蛋白应用的时间间隔大于10 d。(3)超声检查发现小冠脉瘤患儿7例,中等冠脉瘤19例,巨大瘤37例,左冠脉受累者占76.2%,其中58.3%发生在前降支;右冠脉受累者达87.3%,其中47.3%发生在右冠Ⅱ段;双侧冠脉同时受累者占63.5%。(4)随诊发现71.4%冠脉瘤呈现回缩趋势,45.2%的受累分支冠脉瘤消退,平均消退时间为(2.1±1.5)年。结论对于男性、发病年龄<1岁、不完全KD、发生IVIG抵抗、复发患儿及应用IVIG治疗较晚患儿要警惕冠脉瘤的发生;左冠前降支及右冠脉瘤样病变最多见,多数冠脉瘤在恢复期发生回缩。     

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??ObjectiveTo investigate the clinical characteristics and prognosis of coronary aneurysm in children with Kawasaki disease.MethodsCoronary aneurysm was identified by using echocardiography in 63 children with Kawasaki disease from 2000 to 2007.Their gender,age,clinical presentations,use of intravenous gamma immunoglobulin (IVIG),laboratory study results and echocardiographic study results in the acute and convalescent phase were examined retrospectively.Results(1) Boys and infants were more likely to develop coronary aneurysms,the male to female ratio being 5.3??1,and for patients with giant aneurysms the male to female ratio was 8.3??1.(2)The rate of incomplete KD,IVIG non-responders and recurrence in this group of patients were 36.5%,30.2% and 7.9%,respectively,which were higher than the whole KD group.In the acute phase,57 of 63 patients were treated by IVIG with different doses,3 of them did not receive IVIG treatment and the other 3 patients?? IVIG treatments were unknown.The duration from onset to IVIG treatment was longer than 10 days in 36 of the 63 (57.1%) children.(3) Small aneurysms were detected by 2-D echo in 7 patients,medium aneurysms in 19 patients and giant aneurysm in 37 patients.In all of these patients,76.2% of them had left coronary artery aneurysms,and 87.3% of them had right coronary artery aneurysms;47.3% of them had both left and right aneurysms.In the patients with left coronary aneurysms,58.3% of them have left anterior descending branch aneurysms; and in patients with right coronary aneurysms,47.3% of them were located in the right coronary artery segment II.(4) Coronary aneurysm regressed in 71.4 % of the branches.The lumen diameter of the affected branches returned to normal in 45.2% of them,with a mean regression time of 2.1??1.5 years.ConclusionBeing male,younger than 1 year old,incomplete KD,IVIG non-responder,recurrence and later IVIG treatment are possible risk factors of coronary aneurysms in children with Kawasaki disease.Most children have multi-coronary artery aneurysms and left anterior descending branch and right coronary artery are the most commonly affected branches??and most of the coronary aneurysms have the tendency to regress during the convalescent phase.     

Management of Kawasaki disease in the British Isles.

Kawasaki disease in the British Isles was surveyed by an active reporting scheme, based on all cases reported to the British Paediatric Surveillance Unit that were diagnosed between 1 January and 31 December 1990. The study was prompted by the need to investigate the high case fatality rate of Kawasaki disease of 2% observed in 1988. One hundred and sixty three patients were identified of whom six (3.7%) died. Forty five children (28%) suffered cardiac complications of which 39 (24%) were coronary artery abnormalities; five children were diagnosed at postmortem examination, and coronary artery abnormalities were detected by echocardiography in 34. One hundred and forty nine children (93%) had echocardiography. High thrombocytosis, leucocytosis, duration of fever, and younger age were associated with the presence of coronary artery abnormalities. Erythrocyte sedimentation rate, sex, and the number of diagnostic criteria were not. One hundred and thirty three children (87%) received aspirin. Ninety three children (61%) received intravenous gammaglobulin (IVGG). Children were more likely to receive IVGG if they had thrombocytosis or typical Kawasaki disease. The incidence of coronary artery abnormalities was found to be similar in those treated with IVGG (29%) and those untreated (20%), including those treated within 10 days of onset. This may have reflected selection of the more serious cases to receive IVGG or that Kawasaki disease in the British Isles is a different illness to that experienced elsewhere. It amy be, however, that IVGG is less effective in the treatment of British patients with Kawasaki disease than has been the experience in the United States and Japan. These observations emphasise the need for a therapeutic trial of treatment modalities for Kawasaki disease in the UK and the Republic of Ireland.     

Cardiac sequelae of Kawasaki disease in Japan over 10 years

To observe the secular trend of a proportion of Kawasaki disease patients with cardiac sequelae in Japan, we analyzed patients with Kawasaki disease reported to nationwide surveys of the disease during 10.5 years from July 1982 to December 1992. Of 69 382 patients reported to the surveys, 10 596 (15.3%) were reported to have cardiac sequelae such as dilatation or stenosis of coronary arteries, myocardial infarction or valvar lesions, 1 month or more after onset. The percentage of cardiac sequelae was particularly high in males, infants younger than 1 year and children older than 5 years of age. The overall prevalence declined steadily over the observed period. However, the percentage for children older than 5 years of age did not decrease, whether treated with intravenous gamma globulin or untreated. As a consequence of the increased number of patients treated with intravenous gamma globulin, the proportion of Kawasaki disease patients with cardiac sequelae decreased annually. However, the proportion of children older than 5 years of age did not decrease.     

Prevalence of coronary artery lesions on the initial echocardiogram in Kawasaki syndrome

OBJECTIVES: To determine whether coronary artery lesions (ectasia and aneurysm) are commonly observed on the initial echocardiogram of patients with acute Kawasaki syndrome, whether coronary artery ectasia and/or aneurysms occur more frequently in patients with incomplete Kawasaki syndrome than in those patients with complete findings, and whether earlier diagnosis and treatment of Kawasaki syndrome are associated with less frequent occurrence of coronary artery ectasia and/or aneurysm. DESIGN: A retrospective medical record review. SETTING: A tertiary care pediatric hospital. PARTICIPANTS: One hundred patients treated for Kawasaki syndrome between July 1, 1998, and June 30, 2003, who were identified by a medical record search. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: Prevalence of coronary artery lesions (ectasia and aneurysm) on the initial and subsequent echocardiograms. RESULTS: Forty-four percent of patients had a coronary artery lesion (31% with ectasia, 13% with aneurysm) on the initial echocardiogram. Patients with incomplete Kawasaki syndrome were treated significantly later (median, 10 days) and had a significantly higher occurrence of coronary artery aneurysms over the course of their illness (37%) than those with complete Kawasaki syndrome, who were treated at a median of 7 days (P<.001) and had a 12% aneurysm occurrence (P = .009). Patients treated by day 7 of illness had a less frequent occurrence of aneurysm (6%) compared with those patients treated between days 8 and 10 of illness (27%) (P = .03). CONCLUSIONS: Coronary artery lesions are frequently detected on the initial echocardiogram of children with Kawasaki syndrome. If future studies show ectasia to have a relatively high degree of specificity for Kawasaki syndrome, the initial echocardiography may be a useful adjunctive diagnostic test.     

Efficacy of intravenous immune globulin therapy combined with dexamethasone for the initial treatment of acute Kawasaki disease

We studied the effects of a new regimen consisting of intravenous immune globulin (IVIG) combined with dexamethasone (DEX) on clinical outcome and serum levels of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in the initial treatment of Kawasaki disease (KD). A total of 46 KD patients received 0.3 mg/kg per day DEX plus heparin i.v. for 3 consecutive days, together with 2 g/kg IVIG over 4 to 5 days (DEX group). Low-dose acetylsalicylic acid was started after completion of DEX therapy. The control group consisted of 46 KD patients retrospectively treated earlier with 2 g/kg IVIG over 4 to 5 days plus higher dose acetylsalicylic acid (CONTROL group). No serious adverse effect was noted in either group. There were no differences in baseline and post-treatment laboratory data except for C-reactive protein between the groups. Post-treatment C-reactive protein in the DEX group (median 0.9 mg/dl, range 0.0 to 24.7 mg/dl) was lower than that (1.2 mg/dl, range 0.2 to 19.5 mg/dl) in the CONTROL group ( P =0.033 by Mann-Whitney U test). In addition, the mean duration of fever after the first IVIG infusion was 2.2 days (median 1 day, range 1 to 12 days) in the DEX group and 2.8 days (2 days, 1 to 16 days) in the CONTROL group ( P =0.015 by Mann-Whitney U test). The new regimen did not reduce VEGF levels. Two patients in each group developed small- or medium-sized coronary artery aneurysms. Conclusion:although this regimen did not affect coronary outcome, intravenous immune globulin therapy combined with dexamethasone for the initial treatment of Kawasaki disease was safe and may accelerate the resolution of systemic inflammation.Abbreviations CAA coronary artery aneurysms - DEX dexamethasone - IVIG intravenous immune globulin - KD Kawasaki disease - VEGF vascular endothelial growth factor     

Kawasaki disease resistant to immunoglobulin G therapy

We describe a 3-year-old boy with Kawasaki disease who, despite therapy with two doses of intravenous immunoglobulin G and high-dose aspirin, developed myocarditis in the 1st week of illness and coronary artery aneurysms in the 2nd week. He required a short course of systemic corticosteroids for remission of the illness. The myocarditis subsided and coronary aneurysms remained static and uncomplicated during 6 weeks of follow-up. The diagnosis and recent trends in management of this not uncommon vasculitic disorder are outlined.     

Lower level of serum potassium and higher level of C-reactive protein as an independent risk factor for giant aneurysms in Kawasaki disease

Giant aneurysms are the most serious issue of patients with Kawasaki disease (KD). To clarify risk factors for these giant aneurysms, we conducted a matched case-control study. Among the patients reported in nationwide surveys, 117 patients with giant aneurysms had an unequivocal new diagnosis and presented at the treatment center within 9 d of illness. We obtained clinical information on admission of about 69 patients (case) from the treatment centers. One control was selected for each case, an age- and sex-matched patient without coronary involvement, reported from the same treatment center at about the same time as the case, and we obtained the same clinical information about controls. Fourteen variables were analysed with a conditional logistic regression model: body temperature, hematocrit, hemoglobin, numbers of leukocyte and platelets, concentrations of serum albumin, globulin, total cholesterol, sodium, potassium and chloride, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, C-reactive protein and alanine aminotransferase activity. After adjustment for age, duration of illness before admission and use of intravenous gamma globulin therapy, C-reactive protein [odds ratio (OR) = 1.142, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.054-1.237], alanine aminotransferase activity (OR = 1.008, 95% CI 1.002-1.014), serum sodium concentration (OR = 0.877, 95% CI 0.770-0.999) and serum potassium concentration (OR = 0.319, 95% CI 0.124-0.822) were significantly related to the risk for giant aneurysms. Further analyses with these four explanatory variables revealed that C-reactive protein (OR = 1.159, 95% CI 1.022-1.315) and serum potassium concentration (OR = 0.222, 95% CI 0.052-0.948) met the significant level. Thus, the values for serum C-reactive protein and potassium are independent risk factors for the development of the giant aneurysms of Kawasaki disease.     

Coronary aneurysms in Kawasaki disease: Follow-up observation by two-dimensional echocardiography

Summary The development and regression of the coronary aneurysms in Kawasaki disease was studied with serial two-dimensional echocardiographic (2D echo) examinations. The diameter of the aneurysms at the proximal portions of the left coronary artery was measured on the 2D echo images in ten patients with Kawasaki disease, in whom left coronary aneurysms were found at the acute stage of the illness, and followed by 2D echo for longer than eight months. It was found that coronary aneurysms usually developed during the second week of the illness, reached maximal size at 3–8 weeks, and regressed gradually thereafter. Small aneurysms disappeared in several months, and those of intermediate size regressed in one to two years. Large aneurysms may remain for many years. Mural thrombi within the aneurysms were detected with 2D echo in three patients. They decreased in echodensity and eventually disappeared echographically.     

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.     

A fatal case of ruptured giant coronary artery aneurysm

A 5-year-old Japanese boy died because of a ruptured left coronary artery aneurysm (CAA). He was diagnosed as having Kawasaki disease (KD) on the 5th day from onset, with all of the principal signs. On the 7th day of illness, bilateral CAAs were already found via echocardiography, and he was treated with intravenous (IV) gamma globulin and oral ASA. However, the fever persisted and the CAA progressed rapidly. Echocardiography on the 12th illness day showed a giant (18-mm) left anterior descending (LAD) artery aneurysm. Oral propranolol and nifedipine were administered, in conjunction with warfarin/aspirin anti-coagulation therapy. On the 13th day of illness, cardiac arrest developed abruptly, and, despite cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), the patient remained unresponsive and died one hour later. The final pathological diagnosis was a ruptured LAD artery aneurysm and cardiac tamponade. Microscopic investigation of the ruptured vascular wall revealed marked neutrophilic infiltration, with fewer macrophages and lymphocytes. CAA ruptures are a very rare, but fatal, complication of KD. Based on a review of previous reports on CAA ruptures, we consider it useful to distinguish aneurysms which rapidly dilate and continue to expand beyond a diameter of 10 mm with ongoing vasculitis (these CAAs can be termed “super-giant”) from the more common giant CAAs limited to a diameter of 8 or 9 mm, because a decision must be made as to whether to start intensive care or to intervene surgically, in order to ensure the survival of patients with such a potentially critical complication.     

Management and outcome of persistent or recurrent fever after initial intravenous gamma globulin therapy in acute Kawasaki disease

OBJECTIVE: To determine differences in clinical characteristics, laboratory findings, and cardiac complications between patients with acute Kawasaki disease who received additional treatment for persistent or recurrent fever vs those who did not. DESIGN: Nonconcurrent case series; medical record review. SETTING: Tertiary care pediatric hospital. PATIENTS: One hundred eighty-five consecutive patients diagnosed as having acute Kawasaki disease at The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, from 1995 to 1997. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: Prevalence of cardiac complications. RESULTS: Twenty-one patients (11%) received additional treatment with intravenous gamma globulin (IVGG) with or without intravenous methylprednisolone for persistent fever lasting for more than 48 hours or recurrent fever after initial treatment with IVGG. Patients who received additional treatment did not differ significantly from other patients regarding age, sex, race, or diagnostic criteria. Compared with the patients who did not receive additional therapy, the patients who received additional treatment had shorter median interval from fever onset to initial dose of IVGG (5 vs 6 days; P=.006) and longer total days of fever (9 vs 6 days; P<.001). Initial laboratory investigations did not differ significantly. On initial echocardiography, patients who received additional therapy were significantly more likely to have pericardial effusion (33% vs 15%; P=.04), ventricular dysfunction (14% vs 2%; P= .002), and coronary artery ectasia (76% vs 43%; P=.004) but not aneurysms (10% vs 5%; P= .47). At 12 months after diagnosis, there were no significant differences between the 2 groups regarding the prevalence of coronary artery ectasia or aneurysms. CONCLUSION: Patients receiving additional treatment for persistent or recurrent fever have similar demographic and clinical characteristics, greater initial cardiac involvement, and similar overall outcomes.     

Delayed diagnosis by physicians contributes to the development of coronary artery aneurysms in children with Kawasaki syndrome

BACKGROUND: A diagnosis of Kawasaki syndrome is based on clinical criteria with nonspecific laboratory findings, and there is a substantial risk of coronary artery aneurysms if treatment with intravenous immunoglobulin is delayed. In this study, we examined the contributions of sociodemographic factors and parent and physician behavior to the development of coronary artery aneurysms in children with Kawasaki syndrome. METHODS: We performed a retrospective, case-control chart review of Kawasaki syndrome patients treated at our institution during an 11-year period (1991-2002). Of 324 patients, 21 patients had coronary artery aneurysms and were matched with 81 Kawasaki syndrome control patients without coronary artery aneurysms. RESULTS: Patients who developed coronary artery aneurysms were more likely to have had their diagnosis established after 10 days of fever as a result of a delay in physician recognition of Kawasaki syndrome. In addition, these patients were also more likely to have been hospitalized at an outside facility with an erroneous diagnosis, to have had a greater number of healthcare visits before diagnosis, to have sought medical care in Mexico, to lack medical insurance and to speak Spanish as a primary language. Independent predictors of delayed diagnosis included incomplete clinical signs of Kawasaki syndrome, seeking health care in Mexico, and being hospitalized at an outside facility with a different diagnosis. CONCLUSIONS: Increased risk of coronary artery aneurysms is associated with a delay in diagnosis by physicians and not with a delay in seeking medical consultation by parents. Sociodemographic factors influence the likelihood that patients will have a delayed diagnosis.     

Pulse methylprednisolone therapy in the treatment of immune globulin-resistant Kawasaki disease: case report and review of the literature

A subgroup of patients with Kawasaki disease (KD) did not respond to intravenous immune globulin (IVIG) therapy. Corticosteroid therapy remains a controversial alternative in such cases. We report two young children with KD who failed to respond to three courses of IVIG therapy and subsequently received pulse methylprednisolone as an alternative. One had a satisfactory outcome but the other developed giant coronary aneurysms and had a myocardial infarction 2 months after onset of the illness. A review of relevant literature showed that the timing of initiation of pulse methylprednisolone therapy is important. It is suggested that pulse methylprednisolone therapy should be considered if there is no response to two standard doses of IVIG treatment.     

Kawasaki disease: echocardiographic features in 91 cases presenting in the United Kingdom.

Ninety-one patients with Kawasaki disease were examined by cross sectional echocardiography between 1980 and 1988. In the 75 patients evaluated during the acute phase of the illness (the first month), the first echocardiographic examination was carried out at a mean time of 16 days (range 5-30) and coronary arterial lesions were seen in 21 (28%). Two patients with medium sized aneurysms had myocardial infarctions, and one died. Coronary arterial lesions persisted in 17 (23%) patients, most often in younger children. The remaining 16 patients were examined from one month to four years after their acute illnesses, and this group did not have coronary arterial abnormalities. Seven patients with coronary artery lesions have reached school age and require regular echocardiographic examination and exercise electrocardiography. Selective coronary arteriography may be indicated in some patients to identify coronary artery stenosis, which the Japanese experience has shown may progress for several years after the acute illness.