title: Kawasaki disease: clinical spectrum of 88 patients in a high-prevalence African-American population.
abstract: Kawasaki disease (KD) is a systemic vasculitis that predominantly affects infants and young children. Asian race has been described as an important factor for the development of this disease. We reported our experience in a cohort of patients with KD. Clinical and laboratory data from initial presentation and follow-up visits were reviewed in 88 patients with KD treated at Children's Hospital of New Orleans between March 1993 and November 2004. Forty-nine (56%) patients were African American, 35 (40%) Caucasian, two (3%) Asian and two (3%) Hispanic. Coronary artery aneurysms (CAAs) were detected in 15 (17%) patients. CAAs were less frequent in African-American patients compared to Caucasians [relative risk (RR)=0.2, 95% CI: 0.04400-0.8405, p=0.0164]. Eighty-three patients responded to one dose of intravenous human immunoglobulin (IVIG), five patients responded to a second infusion of IVIG, and two who were IVIG resistant responded only following methylprednisolone pulse. Hemoglobin (Hb) levels of <10 g/dl and presence of polymorphic rash were significantly correlated with development of CAAs. No deaths were observed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center and Children's Hospital, New Orleans, LA 70118, USA.
authors.forename: Javier
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Marquez
authors.forename: Osnat
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Gedalia
authors.forename: Liliana
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Candia
authors.forename: Kylathu
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ranjit
authors.forename: George C
authors.initials: GC
authors.lastname: Hescock
authors.forename: Luis R
authors.initials: LR
authors.lastname: Espinoza
authors.forename: Aluizio R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Stopa
authors.forename: Abraham
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gedalia
mesh_terms: D002675:Child, Preschool; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003323:Coronary Aneurysm / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D006454:Hemoglobins / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D016756:Immunoglobulins, Intravenous / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008297:Male; D009080:Mucocutaneous Lymph Node Syndrome / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy; D044469:Racial Groups
chemical_list: D006454:Hemoglobins; D016756:Immunoglobulins, Intravenous