Doppler echocardiographic assessment of left ventricular function in Kawasaki syndrome

ABSTRACT

To investigate the effect of Kawasaki syndrome on left ventricular function, we studied 52 patients with Kawasaki syndrome at initial visit and after 3 months (36 patients). Using Pulsed Doppler echocardiogram,we obtained aortic velocity (peak and mean), acceleration time(AT),ejection time(ET), ratio of AT to ET(AT/ET), acceleration (peak and mean) and velocity time integral and mitral velocity of E and A waves(peak and mean) and velocity time integral. Mitral time for peak velocity time integral. Mitral time for peak velocity was significantly prolonged in Kawasaki syndrome,being a mean(+/-SD) of 66.2(+/-14) msec in the control group, 79.2(+/-13)msec at initial vist(p<0.05) and 79.4(+/-13) msec after 3 months (p<0.05). Aortic peak acceleration was significantly decreased in Kawasaki syndrome being a mean(+/-SD) of 2590(+/-785) cm/sec2 after 3 months (P<0.05).Aortic mean acceleration was also significantly decreased in Kawasaki syndrome being a mean(+/-SD) of 1575( +/-542)cm/sec2 in the control group, 1198(+/-351)cm/sec2at initial visit(p<0.05)and 1124 +/-275cm/sec2 after 3 months(p<0.01). Aortic acceleration time was significantly prolonged in Kawasaki svndrome being a mean(+/-SD) of 62(+/-13) msec in the control group, 72(+/-13) msec at initial visit(p<0.05) and 76(+/-16) msec in the control group, 72(+/-13) msec at initial visit(p<0.05) and 76(+/-16) msec after 3 months (p<0.01). We conclude that early abnormalities of left ventricular function, as assessed by echocardiograpy,gencrally persist after 3 months of onset.