Coronary Aneurysm and IVIG Resistance Prediction in Kawasaki Disease
Abstract Background: Kawasaki disease (KD) is the most common cause of coronary artery aneurysm (CAA) in children. This study aimed to determine the clinical characteristics, demographic features, frequency of coronary involvement, and resistance to intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) treatment in Turkey based on our data.Methods: Patients with KD were evaluated with demographic data, clinical, laboratory, and echocardiographic findings. Results: Between 2010–2019, a total of 259 patients (male/female: 1.67) were treated in our hospital, with 48 (%19) cases < 1 year of age. According to diagnostic criteria, 31% were diagnosed with typical KD and 69% with atypical (incomplete) KD. The frequency of clinical findings were as follows: changes in the lips and oral mucosa (79%); polymorphic rash (69%); conjunctivitis (65%); changes in the extremities (54%); and cervical lymphadenopathy (48%). There was no significant difference between typical and atypical KD in the frequency order. CAA development and IVIG resistance occurred in 11.6% and 12.3% of cases, respectively. IVIG resistance was more common in infants and hospitalization times were longer in this group. Coronary artery lesions existed in 45 patients; right coronary artery (RCA) alone (20%), left coronary artery (LCA) alone (44.5%), and RCA and LCA together were involved (35.5%). The left main coronary artery affected 20 patients, the left anterior descending artery (LAD) affected nine patients (45%), the left circumflex artery (LCx) affected two patients (10%), and the LAD and LCx together affected two patients (10%). None of the patients had myocardial infarctions or died during follow-up. Conclusion: KD is a systemic vasculitis common in pediatric infants in which coronary artery involvement affects prognosis. Due to IVIG resistance and increased coronary involvement accompanying this vasculitis, it is an important problem in countries where the disease is common. It is important to know the factors that increase the risk of coronary involvement and IVIG resistance development.