Coronary Risk Factors in Kawasaki Disease

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: Kawasaki disease is an acute febrile vasculitis that may cause coronary artery dilatation after the acute phase. We assessed the risk factors of coronary artery dilatation in patients diagnosed with Kawasaki disease. METHODS: From January 1995 through April 2003, a total of 362 patients with Kawasaki disease were enrolled. After dividing these patients into two groups by presence of coronary artery dilatation, we analyzed and compared the early symptoms and laboratory findings. RESULTS: A total of 362 patients were divided into two groups Group 1 consisted of 65 patients(18.0%) with coronary artery dilatation, while Group 2 consisted of 297 patients(82.0%) with normal coronary arteries. Group 1 exhibited longer duration of fever during the early symptoms and showed elevated levels of CRP and cardiac Troponin-I(cTnI). WBC count, hemoglobin, hematocrit, platelet count, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, hepatic enzymes, serum albumin, CK-MB, total eosinophil count, age and sex were not significantly different between the two groups. CONCLUSION: As the severity of early inflammatory reaction increased, the risk of coronary artery dilatation increased accordingly. Therefore it is essential to establish a treatment to reduce the early inflammatory reaction in order to decrease coronary artery complications.