Pathogenic and therapeutic roles of cytokines in Kawasaki diseases.

ABSTRACT

Infancy and early childhood are the most common ages for acute pyretic Kawasaki disease (KD). Although the etiology remains a mystery, the current concept is that KD is caused by a contagious pathogen that infects the genetically vulnerable and induces an inflammatory mechanism aimed at cardiovascular organs. Resolving the inflammatory process and decreasing the incidence of coronary anomalies, namely coronary aneurysms, are two benefits of high-dose intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) administration. The etiology of KD has been linked to a large number of cytokines and treatment strategies to regulate these cytokines have been suggested. This review will focus on the critical role of cytokines in disease development and possible treatment approaches and potential clinical applications.