title: Safety from thromboembolism using intravenous immunoglobulin therapy in Kawasaki disease: Study of whole-blood viscosity.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  High-dose intravenous infusions of immunoglobulin (IVIG) are well established as a standard therapy for Kawasaki disease (KD) for reducing the risk of coronary artery aneurysms. IVIG therapy might increase the blood viscosity both in vitro and in vivo, which has been reported as a risk factor for cardiovascular or cerebrovascular thromboembolism in adults.
  
  
  METHODS
  We measured the whole-blood viscosity in vitro, serum IgG and albumin, and blood hematocrit in 10 patients with KD and 10 with non-KD (five with acute encephalitis, one with sepsis, one with idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura, one with Guillain-Barré syndrome, one with insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus, and one with Evans syndrome) before and after IVIG therapy.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The blood viscosity increased significantly after IVIG therapy in the patients with non-KD, but did not increase in those with KD.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results of the present study suggest that the use of IVIG therapy for KD might be relatively safe, with no risk of thromboembolism due to hyperviscosity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Yamaguchi University School of Medicine, Ube-shi, Yamaguchi, Japan.
authors.forename: Miki
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nishikawa
authors.forename: Takashi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ichiyama
authors.forename: Masanari
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hasegawa
authors.forename: Kozo
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kawasaki
authors.forename: Tomoyo
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Matsubara
authors.forename: Susumu
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Furukawa
mesh_terms: D001809:Blood Viscosity / Q000187:drug effects; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006400:Hematocrit; D006801:Humans; D016756:Immunoglobulins, Intravenous / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D009080:Mucocutaneous Lymph Node Syndrome / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013923:Thromboembolism / Q000097:blood / Q000209:etiology
chemical_list: D016756:Immunoglobulins, Intravenous