title: Kawasaki disease: diagnosis, management, and long-term implications.
abstract: Kawasaki disease (KD) is an acute inflammatory vasculitis of childhood which was initially described more than 4 decades ago, yet the specific etiology remains unknown. It has become the most common cause of acquired cardiovascular disease in children in the United States. Advances in clinical therapies have reduced, but not eliminated, the incidence of coronary artery abnormalities in affected children. Pathophysiology seems to include an intense elaboration of cytokines, endothelin, and other vasoactive mediators resulting in the development of vascular endothelial changes that may leave a permanent impact on vascular integrity. Treatment with intravenous immune globulin and aspirin remains the primary management strategy and steroid therapy remains contoversial. In severe circumstances, coronary reperfusion strategies are required, and coronary artery surgery in children with KD has been required, albeit infrequently. KD may be a harbinger for early onset coronary artery disease in adults. Recently developed AHA recommendations have amended diagnostic strategies and indicated a stratified approach to the long-term follow up of this enigmatic yet widespread disease.
authors.affiliation: Section of Pediatric Cardiology, Maria Fareri Children's Hospital, Westchester Medical Center/New York Medical College, Valhalla, New York 10595, USA. gary_satou@nymc.edu
authors.forename: Gary M
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Satou
authors.forename: Joseph
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Giamelli
authors.forename: Michael H
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Gewitz
mesh_terms: D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001241:Aspirin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D004452:Echocardiography; D005260:Female; D005343:Fibrinolytic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D016756:Immunoglobulins, Intravenous / Q000627:therapeutic use; D007155:Immunologic Factors / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008297:Male; D009080:Mucocutaneous Lymph Node Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D011379:Prognosis; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D005343:Fibrinolytic Agents; D016756:Immunoglobulins, Intravenous; D007155:Immunologic Factors; D001241:Aspirin