Intravenous Immunoglobulin Retreatment in Kawasaki Disease: The Comparison between Single 2 g/kg and 1 g/kg

PURPOSE: Patients with Kawasaki disease (KD) who remain febrile after first dose of intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) are usually treated with a second dose of IVIG. However, the optimal dosage of IVIG in the retreatment of KD is still controversial. We evaluated the impact of IVIG dose difference on the coronary artery lesion (CAL) in the retreatment of KD. METHODS: We performed a prospective study on 24 patients with KD requiring IVIG retreatment from January 2000 to December 2004. The patients were assigned to receive IVIG in the retreatment of KD either as a single infusion of 2 g/kg (A group, 12 patients) or 1 g/kg (B group, 24 patients). We compared the CAL of B group to that of A group for comparable risk of both groups. RESULTS: The incidence of CAL was significantly higher in the 5 of 24 (20.9%) patients with IVIG retreatment vs the 18 of 315 (5.8%) afebrile patients after first course of IVIG treatment (P=0.016). There were no significant differences in age, sex, and other clinical and laboratory findings known as risk factors of CAL between the two groups. Among 24 patients with IVIG retreatment, there were no significant difference in the incidence of CAL between the two groups(Group A, 3/12=25%, vs Group B, 2/12=16.7%) (P>0.05). CONCLUSION: Single 1 g/kg IVIG therapy is comparable outcome to single 2 g/kg IVIG therapy in the retreatment of KD, although the efficacy of this practice requires assessment with a randomized controlled prospective trial in more patients.

A Case of Neonatal Suppurative Submandibular Sialadenitis: Complicated with Multiple Deep Neck Abscess

Isolated submandibular suppurative sialadenitis occurring in the neonatal period is extremely rare. At present, only 15 cases of isolated submandibular sialadenitis in the neonatal period have been reported in the literature. We report a rare case of multiple deep neck abscess in association with both submandibular suppurative sialadenitis in a term neonate.

A Clinical Observation of Children with Urachal Anomalies

PURPOSE: Urachal anomalies are rare but are known to develop several complications, especially infection. Moreover, uniform guidelines for management have not been presented because of the variable clinical characteristics of these anomalies. The purpose of this report is to review our experience with urachal anomalies and attempt to determine the optimal management. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the records of fourteen children with a variety of urachal anomalies who had been treated from January 1996 to June 2005 at Dong Kang General Hospital. RESULTS: The age distribution of the patients(mean age; 3.8 years) was six neonates, one infant, five preschool-age and two school-age children. The male to female ratio was 1:1. Six cases of urachal cyst, four cases of patent urachus, two cases of urachal sinus and two cases of urachal diverticulum were found. Three patients with patent urachus and one with urachal cyst had hydronephrosis. Other associated anomalies included an inguinal hernia in one patient with urachal sinus and a vesicoureteral reflux in one patient with urachal diverticulum. As a first-line diagnostic tool, high-resolution ultrasound examination was performed in thirteen cases and computed tomography in one case. Surgical excision was performed in nine patients with urachal anomaly. Five cases out of six neonatal cases experienced spontaneous improvement during a three-month follow up period. Due to frequent infection of the umbilicus, surgical excision was performed on one neonate with urachal sinus. CONCLUSION: All patients with urachal anomalies should undergo investigation for associated anomalies. The neonate with urachal anomalies, especially patent urachus, do not require surgical excision unless the patient has multiple episodes of recurrent infection.