Predictive risk factors for coronary artery abnormalities in Kawasaki disease

Clinical characteristics to predict the development of coronary artery abnormalities (CAA) in Kawasaki disease (KD) were assessed by reviewing medical records of patients diagnosed with KD at Korea University Medical Center from March 2001 to February 2005. Of the 285 patients diagnosed with KD, 19 developed CAA (6.7%). Compared with the CAA(−) group, the CAA(+) group had a longer duration of fever after intravenous gamma-globulin (IVGG) injection (2.4±2.9 vs. 1.5±1.2 days, p=0.008) and higher C-reactive protein (CRP)(12.3±7.8 vs. 8.7±7.1 mg/dL, p=0.038). In particular, the CAA(+) group tended to have more than 7 days of fever before IVGG and more than 3 days of fever after IVGG (26.3 vs. 5.3%, p<0.001; 26.3 vs. 6.4%, p=0.002). When the IVGG responsiveness was defined by the presence of defervescence within 3 days after IVGG, IVGG-non-responders showed a higher incidence of CAA (22.7 vs. 5.3%, p=0.002). Non-responders had a longer duration of fever after IVGG (5.5±1.9 vs. 1.2±0.6 days, p<0.001) and a significantly increased CRP, AST, ALT and total bilirubin. Multivariate regression analysis for CAA showed that the only factor significantly associated with the development of CAA was total fever that lasted for longer than 8 days (OR=4.052, 95% CI=1.151–14.263, p=0.0293). Conclusively, the most important predictor of CAA in KD is total duration of fever longer than 8 days. Early identification of IVGG non-responders and active therapeutic intervention for fever in KD cases might decrease the incidence of CAA.     

川崎病患儿冠状动脉血流储备测定与影像形态学诊断的对照研究

目的评价持续冠状动脉病变对川崎病（KD）患儿冠状动脉血液动力学的影响, 探讨冠状动脉血流储备（CFR）检测在KD患儿冠状动脉病变远期随访中的应用价值。方法选择因胸痛、心悸以及各类偶发早搏的患儿为对照组，KD并发持续左冠状动脉病变患儿为KD组，均予以ATP 160 μg· kg-1·min-1持续静脉注射，共6 min。运用经胸多普勒超声心动图（TTDE）检测冠状动脉左前降支(LAD) 在ATP注射前后的舒张期峰值流速(PDV)及平均流速(MDV)，并通过计算比值得出相应CFR（PDV）和CFR（MDV）值。结果 对照组纳入25例，CFR（PDV）和CFR（MDV）值均与年龄呈显著正相关(r=0.596, 0.591, P=0.002, 0.002)；<2岁、～8岁和>8岁组的CFR (PDV) 95%参考值范围分别为≥1.22、≥1.94和≥2.22。KD组纳入8例，静息状态下PDV和MDV值分别为（50.0±15.07） cm· s-1和(35.16±11.52) cm· s-1，显著高于对照组(P=0.004, 0.015)；而CFR（PDV）和CFR（MDV）值明显降低，分别为（1.67±0.38） cm· s-1和（1.69±0.47） cm· s-1(P=0.002,0.018)。与对照组比较，KD组7/8例(87.5%)患儿CFR（PDV）值显著降低。结论持续冠状动脉病变可导致KD患儿CFR值显著降低，TTDE检测患儿CFR具无创、安全和便捷的优点，对于KD冠状动脉病变的长期随访与临床诊断治疗策略的选择具有指导意义。     

Incomplete Kawasaki disease in patients younger than 1 year of age: a possible inherent risk factor

Kawasaki disease (KD) patients younger than 1 year of age are at especially high risk of developing coronary artery abnormalities (CAA). To define the clinical characteristics of this group, as well as the risk factors predisposing them to CAA, we reviewed the medical records of 136 KD patients younger than 1 year of age who were treated at the Korea University Medical Center from January 2001 to July 2006. Of these patients, 16 developed CAA (11.8%). The CAA(+) group had a longer duration of total fever than the CAA(−) group (9.1±3.7 days vs. 6.3±2.0 days, p=0.011), but did not differ in the duration of pre- and post-intravenous gamma-globulin (IVGG) fever. The CAA(+) group had fewer diagnostic symptoms than the CAA(−) group (2.7±1.1 vs. 4.3±1.2, p<0.001). Of the hematological findings, the CAA(+) group only differed from the CAA(−) group in having significantly higher total white blood cell (19.2±6.0 vs. 14.7±4.7 K/mm³, p=0.007) and platelet (462.9±101.0 vs. 383.6±121.1 K/mm³, p=0.014) levels. Multivariable logistic regression analysis showed that the only factors which were significantly associated with the development of CAA were the total number of symptoms (OR=0.493, 95% CI=0.293–0.829, p=0.007) and the duration of total fever (OR=1.405, 95% CI=1.092–1.808, p=0.008). Conclusively, incomplete clinical manifestations and a longer duration of total fever are significantly associated with the development of CAA in KD patients younger than 1 year of age. Therefore, these patients should be monitored for incomplete KD, especially if unexplained fever continues, and treatment to shorten the duration of total fever should be initiated. An erratum to this article can be found at     

Transthoracic Echo-Doppler Assessment of Coronary Microvascular Function Late after Kawasaki Disease

The goal of this study was to demonstrate that Doppler transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) may represent a valuable tool for the noninvasive demonstration of coronary microvascular dysfunction in children with previous Kawasaki disease (KD) by the measurement of coronary flow reserve (CFR) during cold pressor test (CPT). Twenty-five children with previous KD (mean follow-up, 4.6 ± 2.6 years) were included in the study—16 with no evidence of coronary artery lesions (CALs⁻) by TTE and 9 with coronary aneurysms (CALs⁺). Seventeen age-matched healthy subjects were also recruited. Diastolic peak velocity was measured by pulsed Doppler both at rest (DPV_Rest) and during CPT (DPV_CPT) in the anterior descending artery. CFR was calculated as DPV_CPT/DPV_Rest. KD patients demonstrated significantly higher values of DPV_Rest (0.21 ± 0.05 vs 0.13 ± 0.01 cm/sec, p < 0.0001) and DPV_CPT (0.33 ± 0.07 vs 0.27 ± 0.03 cm/sec, p < 0.005). CFR was reduced in KD compared to control subjects (1.5 ± 0.4 vs 2.1 ± 0.2, p < 0.0001). CFR was decreased in a similar manner in both CALs⁺ patients (1.4 ± 0.4, p = 0.002 vs controls) and CALs⁻ patients (1.6 ± 0.4, p < 0.0001 vs controls). Doppler TTE at rest and during CPT may represent a valuable modality for CFR evaluation in children with a history of KD. CFR is significantly reduced in KD patients independently of the presence of CALs.     

川崎病所致严重冠状动脉病变单中心队列研究

背景：川崎病（KD）所致严重冠状动脉病变（CAL）容易导致患儿发生冠状动脉事件或死亡,对远期预后及生存质量具有重要影响。 目的：总结分析伴严重CAL的KD患儿的中远期临床转归,为KD患儿长期随访管理及预后评估提供依据。 设计：队列研究。 方法：检索复旦大学附属儿科医院（我院）HIS系统,纳入2008年1月至2019年12月出院诊断为KD,经我院冠状动脉造影（CAG）确诊为KD所致严重CAL的＜18岁患儿。排除合并其他引起严重CAL和影响严重CAL预后疾病者。所有患儿在门诊及病房由资深心血管专科医生随访,均以药物治疗为基础,伴冠状动脉严重狭窄及心肌缺血的患儿经多学科讨论后予手术治疗。以确诊及随访期间出现心肌缺血、心肌梗死或死亡的患儿为预后不良组,反之则为预后良好组,观察出现不良预后及CAL的演变情况,分析不良预后的影响因素。 主要结局指标：不良预后发生情况和CAL的恢复情况。 结果：144例KD所致严重CAL患儿纳入本文分析。其中男117例（81.2%）,女27例;KD中位发病年龄2.2（1.0,4.5）岁,中位随访时间1.6（0,3.4）年,确诊为严重CAL时病程为5.0（3.0,21.3）月。144例KD所致严重CAL患儿共累及276支冠状动脉,56例（38.9%）累及单支冠状动脉,88例（61.1%）累及≥2支冠状动脉。发生巨大冠状动脉瘤（GCAA)122例,单支冠状动脉多发中小型冠状动脉瘤（CAA)8例,GCAA合并单支冠状动脉多发中小型CAA 6例,受累冠状动脉均狭窄8例;62例发生冠状动脉狭窄,其中冠状动脉闭塞31例。预后不良组54例（37.5%）,均存在心肌缺血,其中14例患儿缺血心肌处发生过有记录的急性心肌梗死,1例患儿因心肌梗死所致严重心力衰竭死亡。多因素分析结果显示,≥2支冠状动脉受累的患儿是单支冠状动脉受累的患儿发生不良预后风险的2.6倍（OR=2.602,95%CI：1.201~5.634）,合并冠状动脉狭窄的患儿是未合并冠状动脉狭窄的患儿发生不良预后风险的3倍（OR=3.055,95%CI：1.450~6.437）。共行179次CAG,114例（208支受累冠状动脉）行1次CAG,30例（68支受累冠状动脉）行≥2次CAG。68支受累冠状动脉首次确诊时,51支为GCAA,末次随访时好转率为4.0%;3支为多发中小型CAA,末次随访时好转率为66.6%;2支为单个中小型CAA,至末次随访均发生狭窄（狭窄程度约50%）;12支为狭窄,至末次随访时均未好转。 结论：GCAA是KD所致严重CAL的主要类型,且难以恢复,单支冠状动脉多发中小型CAA好转率较高。冠状动脉狭窄及多支冠状动脉受累是KD所致严重CAL患儿发生不良预后的影响因素。     

Clinical responses of patients with Kawasaki disease to different brands of intravenous immunoglobulin

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether different brands of intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) administered to children with Kawasaki disease (KD) result in different outcomes. STUDY DESIGN: We analyzed children with KD and divided them into 4 groups according to the brand of IVIG. A coronary artery abnormality (CAA) was defined as having a lumen diameter (inner border to inner border) of > or =3 mm in KD cases <5 years old and > or =4 mm in cases > or =5 years old, and giant aneurysm was defined as a lumen diameter > or =8 mm. Patients were considered nonresponsive to IVIG therapy if fever persisted longer than 2 days after completion of treatment and needed retreatment with IVIG. RESULTS: We collected 437 cases, 29 (6.6%) were nonresponsive, 17 (3.9%) had CAA at convalescence, and 3 (0.7%) had giant aneurysm, 2 of whom had development of myocardial infarcts. Patients receiving Brand C IVIG, prepared with beta-propiolactone, had higher rates (10%, 9/93, P = .01) of CAA at convalescence and nonresponsiveness (13%, 12/93, P = .001); giant aneurysm occurred in 3/93 (3%) receiving Brand C IVIG and in 0/344 who received the other 3 brands (P = .008). CONCLUSIONS: IVIG, prepared with beta-propiolactone, was most significantly associated with nonresponsiveness, CAA at convalescence, and giant aneurysm. Physicians should be cautious when using IVIG prepared with beta-propiolactone or enzyme digestion to treat KD.     

川崎病并发冠状动脉病变的超声心动图表现的动态观察

目的 探讨川崎病(KD)所引起的冠状动脉扩张(CAD)以及冠状动脉瘤(CAA)的超声心动图特点.方法 用彩色多普勒超声心动图检测KD患儿冠状动脉开口和内径,并动态观察静脉免疫球蛋白治疗前后冠状动脉内径的变化情况.结果 本组46例KD患儿,41例患儿行超声心动图检查,合并CAD 12例,左冠状动脉(LCA)较右冠状动脉(RCA)更易受累及(P<0.05);CAA 4例,均为双侧冠状动脉病变,最大内径10 mm.治疗后6～18 d复查超声心动图,CAD组LCA较治疗前明显回缩(P<0.05),RCA内径无变化(P>0.05);CAA组LCA和RCA内径均无明显变化(P>0.05).对10例冠状动脉病变患儿进行随访,其中8例CAD冠状动脉内径均恢复正常,1例CAA冠状动脉病变加重,1例CAA完全恢复正常.结论 (1)在KD所引起的CAD中,LCA比RCA更易受累及,静脉免疫球蛋白治疗后短期内LCA明显回缩.(2)超声心动图是动态观察KD并发CAD和CAA的无创手段.     

Ultrasound Tissue Characterization of the Myocardium in Patients After Kawasaki Disease

We sought to determine if changes in myocardial physical properties, detected by ultrasound tissue characterization (UTC), are present in asymptomatic children years after an acute episode of Kawasaki disease (KD) and if such changes are related to coronary artery aneurysms (CAs). Myocardial UTC analysis was performed 4.8 ± 3.4 years after acute KD in 22 patients, mean age 6.6 ± 3.4 years, with or without CA, who had a normal ECG and normal left ventricular (LV) systolic and diastolic function by echocardiography. Twenty-two age-matched subjects were studied as controls. Cyclic variation of integrated backscatter (cvIBS) and calibrated integrated backscatter (cIBS) were assessed in 16 LV myocardial segments in each patient and control. We found large differences in the UTC data between patients and controls: cvIBS, 7.8 ± 0.8 vs 8.9 ± 0.6 dB; cIBS, 28.6 ± 3.2 vs 25.2 ± 1.0 dB (P < 10⁻³ for both). The average values of cIBS and cvIBS did not differ significantly between KD patients with and patients without CA or stenosis. In conclusion, UTC analysis demonstrated significant differences in myocardial tissue properties between KD patients and controls, despite similar measures of LV function, independent of coronary artery abnormalities. UTC analysis might improve risk stratification for KD patients.     

氯吡格雷联合阿司匹林对川崎病并发中小型冠状动脉瘤患儿抗血栓治疗的疗效及安全性研究

目的 探讨川崎病（KD）合并冠状动脉瘤（CAA）患儿使用氯吡格雷联合阿司匹林抗血栓治疗的疗效及安全性。方法 选取2013年1月至2018年6月经超声心动图诊断为合并多发中小型CAA的KD患儿77例为研究对象,随机分为观察组（n=38）和对照组（n=39）,分别接受氯吡格雷+阿司匹林和低分子肝素+阿司匹林治疗。所有患儿定期随访,以病程前3个月为观察期,总结两组患儿的冠状动脉变化及其他并发症发生情况。结果 随访至3个月时,观察组6例冠状动脉恢复正常,11例冠状动脉较前回缩,19例冠状动脉稳定,2例发展为巨大冠状动脉瘤;对照组7例冠状动脉恢复正常,12例冠状动脉较前回缩,19例冠状动脉稳定,1例发展为巨大冠状动脉瘤;两组冠状动脉变化情况比较差异无统计学意义（P > 0.05）。观察组合并鼻衄2例,皮肤瘀斑6例;对照组合并鼻衄1例,出现注射部位瘀点瘀斑7例;两组均未出现其他严重出血事件。结论 氯吡格雷联合小剂量阿司匹林对KD合并CAA患儿的抗血栓治疗安全有效。     

Endothelial Function Evaluated by Flow-Mediated Dilatation in Pediatric Vascular Disease

The endothelial function of children with and without vascular disease, consisting of 41 controls, 24 with Kawasaki disease (KD), and 46 with diabetes mellitus (DM), was examined. Age at examination ranged from 3 to 23 years (mean, 12.0 ± 4.7). The flow-mediated dilatation (FMD) and intima-media complex in the common carotid artery were measured. In controls age at examination was not associated with FMD or intima-media complex. FMD significantly decreased in children with KD and DM compared with the control group (control vs KD or DM: 11.7 ± 14.7 vs 3.0 ± 11.0 or 6.4 ± 8.5%, respectively; p < 0.05). However, there was no significant difference for intima-media complex among the groups. Furthermore, FMD in KD patients with coronary arterial aneurysm was lower than that in KD patients without aneurysm (-0.5 ± 9.2 vs 8.3 ± 9.1%, p < 0.05). In DM patients, FMD in the high HbA1c group (HbA1c = 7%) was lower than that in the normal HbA1c group (HbA1c < 7%) (4.8 ± 8.1 vs 11.4 ± 7.8%, p < 0.05). In conclusion, FMD detected endothelial impairment in children with KD or type 1 DM regardless of overt vascular complications, and FMD impairment occurs prior to intima-media complex thickening. By measuring both FMD and intima-media complex, useful information for predicting vascular complications may be obtained.     

Percutaneous Transluminal Coronary Rotational Atherectomy for Localized Stenosis Caused by Kawasaki Disease

We report the results of percutaneous transluminal coronary rotational atherectomy (PTCRA) for localized stenosis caused by Kawasaki disease (KD) in children. Five males and a females, aged 5–15 years old (median, 9), underwent PTCRA. The interval from the onset of KD to PTCRA ranged from 5 to 12 years (median, 9). The target vessels were the left anterior descending artery (three patients), the left circumflex (two patients), and the right coronary artery (one patient). The immediate results of PTCRA were successful in all patients, and the mean stenosis degree improved from 89 ± 10% to 27 ± 12%. In follow-up coronary angiograms within 1 year, four vessels were restenosed, including two with complete occlusion. A 15-year-old male has had good patency for 4 years after undergoing re-PTCRA for restenosis using a larger burr size. PTCRA is feasible for severe localized stenosis with calcification caused by KD in children and the immediate results are good. However, restenosis often occurred within 1 year after PTCRA in small children and PTCRA is not always appropriate for them. When the use of a larger burr is possible, good patency can be expected and can be maintained by close follow-up and re-PTCRA.     

Kawasaki disease in Thai infants compared with older children

Infants with Kawasaki disease (KD) are at increased risk of having coronary artery abnormalities (CAA). The purpose of this study was to evaluate the clinical features of KD in infants and compare these with findings in older children to determine the risk factors for CAA in infants. All children with KD admitted to a tertiary care hospital between January 1993 and April 2003 were studied retrospectively. Of a total of 51 patients included in the study, 22 (43%) were <1 year of age (mean 8 months, range 2-12 months). All had classical clinical manifestations such as fever, skin rash and mucositis; extremity change occurred in 95%, conjunctivitis in 81% and cervical lymphadenopathy in 27%. Infants had significantly more non-classical symptoms, e.g. diarrhoea (68%), than older children (38%) (p=0.04). The mean number of days before intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) treatment was given to infants was 2 days later than in older children. The predictors of CAA in infants were resistance to IVIG treatment (p=0.02) and long duration of fever (p=0.009). Compared with older children, the less typical presentations and delay in diagnosis and treatment in infants might be important factors in CAA in KD.     

Echocardiographic Evaluation of Coronary Artery Fistula in Pediatric Patients

The management of pediatric patients with coronary artery fistula (CAF) remains controversial because the clinical course of CAF may vary greatly from spontaneous closure to severe complications. The purpose of our study was to report the outcome of CAF in pediatric patients by using echocardiography as an evaluation tool. Between January 1997 and July 2003, 17 patients (age range, 5 months to 14 years; mean, 3.8 years) with coronary angiographically proven CAF were recruited. We divided patients into two groups. Group 1 (n = 4) included patients with symptoms related to CAF (n = 3), persistent coronary artery dilatation for 6 months (n = 4), and/or a continuous waveform of the fistula detected by Doppler (n = 3). Group 2 (n = 13) included patients who were asymptomatic, with normal coronary artery size or coronary artery dilatation less than 6 months, and/or a noncontinuous waveform of the fistula detected by Doppler. Group 1 patients received interventional therapy, whereas group 2 patients were managed conservatively. There were 6 male and 11 female patients. The correlation coefficient of coronary artery diameter measured on echocardiography and angiography was 0.935 and 0.834 in groups 1 and 2, respectively. The diameter of the involved coronary artery was 5.8-9.2 mm (mean, 7.50 ± 1.85) and 1.7-3.8 mm (mean, 2.72 ± 0.59) in group 1 and group 2, respectively. After transcatheter coil embolization, group 1 patients became asymptomatic with no residual fistula and had decrement of the coronary artery diameter (p = 0.035). All group 2 patients remained asymptomatic with no significant change in coronary artery size (p = 0.846) and 3 of them showed spontaneous closure of CAF. Persistent dilatation of the diameter of proximal coronary artery may be a useful parameter for determining subsequent application of interventional therapy. In patients with nonsignificant CAF, conservative follow-up is strongly suggested and intervention procedures may be unnecessary.     

儿童再发川崎病77例临床特征回顾性分析

目的 探讨再发川崎病(KD)的临床特点及其预后。方法 收集1994年1月至2012年10月重庆医科大学附属儿童医院收治的KD再发病例,比较初发时和复发时的临床特征、实验室指标和随访资料。并选取5～10年未再发KD病例作为对照组,探讨KD再发可能的危险因素。结果 19年间收治KD 4 875例,其中再发KD 77例,再发1次74例,再发2次3例,男∶女为1.4∶1。再发平均间隔时间1.6年,1年以内再发45.4%（35/77）。发热病程再发时较初发时缩短 (7.6±3.1) vs ( 8.9 ± 3.8) d,P＜0.05;WBC和CRP水平再发时较初发时显著降低,(14.3±5.7) vs (16.2 ±5.4)×109·L-1和(61±58) vs ( 95±76) mg·L-1,P均<0.05。急性期（病程≤30 d）冠状动脉病变（CAL ）发生率初发时为17.8%（13/73) ,再发时为13.3%( 10/75);应用IVIG后亚急性期（病程>30 d）CAL发生率初发时为11.0%（8/73),再发时为9.3%（7/75),组间比较差异均无统计学意义。7例初发时与再发时均有CAL,其中1例初发时与再发时均合并冠状动脉瘤（CAA）。52例KD再发患儿有出院后随访资料,随访时间平均2.1年,其中1 例再发时合并左侧冠状动脉主干小型CAA的患儿随访中出现新发部位左前降支瘤样扩张,冠状动脉内径回缩至正常后4年7个月再次出现左侧冠状动脉扩张。多因素Logistic分析显示,年龄＜3岁、性别、热程＞10 d、并发CAL及WBC>20×109·L-1均与KD再发无统计学关联。结论 KD再发多发生在1年内。再发KD的CAL总发生率并未升高,初发时合并CAL患儿,再发时更易发生CAL。     

川崎病合并冠状动脉瘤患儿应用华法林治疗的安全性

目的探讨川崎病合并冠状动脉瘤患儿应用华法林治疗的安全性和转归。方法选择2011至2020年湖南省人民医院收治的川崎病合并巨大冠状动脉瘤、1支冠状动脉血管内发生多个冠状动脉瘤或冠状动脉内发生血栓的患儿共21例进行前瞻性研究,应用华法林治疗,将国际标准化比值(INR)目标范围控制在2.0~3.0。在治疗开始时,治疗后1、2、3、4周及2、3、6、12个月,观察治疗前后冠状动脉瘤直径、数量、部位和冠状动脉内血栓的变化,并监测INR、心电图、肌酸激酶同工酶(CK-MB)、肌钙蛋白I。实施规范的华法林出血风险培训与管理,并根据家长实际落实情况,分为落实组和未落实组,比较2组患儿出血的发生情况。组间比较采用秩和检验或Fisher确切概率法。结果21例患儿男15例、女6例,发病年龄为2月龄至6岁。入组时评估冠状动脉病变为Ⅱ级有4例、Ⅲ级有7例、Ⅳ级有7例、Ⅴ级有3例。10例发生血栓的患儿临床发现血栓的时间为病程第4天至4个月。应用华法林治疗后,其剂量分布在0.06~0.10 mg/(kg·d),INR为1.80~2.59,10例有血栓的患儿有8例消失,2例未消失的Ⅴ级患儿的血栓有不同程度机化。治疗后,4例Ⅱ级病变患儿的冠状动脉均恢复正常;7例Ⅲ级病变患儿中有3例冠状动脉瘤消失,4例无改变;7例Ⅳ级病变患儿中5例冠状动脉瘤缩小为Ⅲ级,2例无改变;3例Ⅴ级病变患儿瘤体无改变。治疗后均没有新发血栓及新冠状动脉瘤出现。21例患儿治疗前后心电图无特殊改变,治疗前后肌钙蛋白I和CK-MB差异均无统计学意义[0.07(0~3.01)比0.04(0~0.29)μg/L,20.6(11.2~58.2)比29.0(16.7~47.0)U/L,Z=0.932、1.906,均P>0.05]。华法林出血风险管理落实组患儿出血发生率明显低于未落实组,差异有统计学意义(2/15比4/6,Fisher值=5.689,P=0.031)。结论应用INR 2.0~3.0为目标范围,结合川崎病并冠状动脉瘤的严重程度来调整华法林剂量,并予以规范而严格的管理与培训,可增加川崎病患儿华法林治疗的安全性,改善患儿的冠状动脉病变,治疗血栓及预防新血栓,降低出血风险。     

Adolescent Kawasaki disease: usefulness of 64-slice CT coronary angiography for follow-up investigation

Background

Kawasaki disease (KD) is a systemic vasculitis that mainly affects coronary arteries in children, and requires regular follow-up from the time of diagnosis.

Objective

To evaluate the feasibility of 64-slice CT angiography (CTA) for follow-up of patients with KD using previously performed invasive catheter coronary angiography (CCA) as reference standard.

Materials and methods

The study group comprised 12 patients (age 17.6?±?2.9?years, mean±SD) with a diagnosis of KD and a previously performed CCA (interval, 32.6?±?13.5?months) who underwent 64-slice cardiac CTA. The quality of the images for establishing the presence of coronary abnormalities was determined by two observers. The CTA findings were compared with those from the prior CCA.

Results

Adequate image quality was obtained in all patients. Mean effective dose for CTA was 6.56?±?0.95?mSv. CTA allowed accurate identification, characterization and measurement of all coronary aneurysms (n?=?32), stenoses (n?=?3) and occlusions (n?=?9) previously demonstrated by CCA. One patient with disease progression went on to have percutaneous coronary intervention.

Conclusion

Coronary lesions were reliably evaluated by 64-slice CTA in the follow-up of compliant patients with KD, reducing the need for repeated diagnostic invasive CCA. Hence, in an adequately selected patient population, the role of CCA could be limited almost only to therapeutic procedures.     

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.     

Emerging role of computed tomography coronary angiography in evaluation of children with Kawasaki disease

Coronary artery abnormalities are the most important complications in children with Kawasaki disease (KD). Two-dimensional transthoracic echocardiography currently is the standard of care for initial evaluation and follow-up of children with KD. However, it has inherent limitations with regard to evaluation of mid and distal coronary arteries and, left circumflex artery and the poor acoustic window in older children often makes evaluation difficult in this age group. Catheter angiography (CA) is invasive, has high radiation exposure and fails to demonstrate abnormalities beyond lumen. The limitations of echocardiography and CA necessitate the use of an imaging modality that overcomes these problems. In recent years advances in computed tomography technology have enabled explicit evaluation of coronary arteries along their entire course including major branches with optimal and acceptable radiation exposure in children. Computed tomography coronary angiography (CTCA) can be performed during acute as well as convalescent phases of KD. It is likely that CTCA may soon be considered the reference standard imaging modality for evaluation of coronary arteries in children with KD.     

Circulating Cardiac Troponin I Levels in Kawasaki Disease

In addition to the vascular findings of Kawasaki disease (KD), clinical, electrocardiographic, and/or echocardiographic signs of myocarditis are recognizable in the acute phase of KD in many patients. The mechanism of myocarditis and an association with the development of subsequent coronary artery abnormalities in KD is unknown. Previous studies of serum cardiac troponin I (cTnI) measurements in pediatric populations have suggested a possible utility of measurements in diagnosis and follow-up of KD. We designed a retrospective study to evaluate cTnI measurements during acute KD and to assess the predictive value of cTnI measurements in acute KD for the subsequent development of coronary artery abnormalities. Twenty-nine children were studied. Group 1 consisted of 15 KD patients who developed coronary artery abnormalities as detected by transthoracic echocardiographic evaluation. Group 2 consisted of 14 KD patients with persistently normal coronary artery findings on echocardiograms. A control group consisted of 11 children, none of whom were known to have had clinical findings of KD or myocarditis. The mean cTnI values for all three groups were lower than the values suggestive of cardiac damage: group 1 = 0.11 ± 0.16 ng/ml, group 2 = 0.15 ± 0.34 ng/ml, and control = 0.04 ± 0.08 ng/ml. The current study demonstrates that there is no significant elevation of cTnI in KD patients. Additionally, there is no correlation between cTnI measurements and the finding of myocarditis, as reflected by decreased cardiac function, or the subsequent development of coronary artery abnormalities.     

Non-enhanced ECG-gated respiratory-triggered 3-D steady-state free-precession MR angiography with slab-selective inversion: initial experience in visualisation of renal arteries in free-breathing children without renal artery abnormality

Background

ECG-gated non-enhanced balanced steady-state free precession (bSSFP) MR angiography requires neither breath-holding nor administration of contrast material.

Objective

To investigate the image quality of free-breathing ECG-gated non-enhanced bSSFP MR angiography of renal arteries in children.

Materials and methods

Fourteen boys and seven girls (mean age, 9.7?years; range, 7?weeks–17?years) with no history of renovascular disease were included. MRI was performed at 1.5?T. Subjective image quality of axial and coronal maximum-intensity-projection reconstructions of four segments (I, aorta and renal artery ostium; II, main renal artery; III, segmental branches; IV, intrarenal vessels) was evaluated using a 4-point scale (4?=?excellent, 3?=?good, 2?=?acceptable, 1?=?non-diagnostic).

Results

Image quality was excellent for segments I (mean ± SD, 3.9?±?0.3) and II (4.0?±?0.1), good for segment III (3.4?±?0.9) and acceptable for segment IV (2.3?±?1.1 ). Mean image quality did not differ between sedated and non-sedated children.

Conclusion

bSSFP MR angiography enables visualisation of renal arteries in children.