Corticosteroid administration for patients with coronary artery aneurysms after Kawasaki disease may be associated with impaired regression.
BACKGROUND
Corticosteroid administration in Kawasaki disease (KD) is controversial but accepted as treatment for patients who do not respond to initial treatment. The impact of corticosteroids on evolving coronary artery aneurysms (CAA) and future vascular remodelling is unknown.


RESULTS
The clinical history of 80 patients (73% male; median age at diagnosis 2.2 years) seen from 1990 to 2008 with CAAs after KD were reviewed, 19 (24%) of whom received systemic corticosteroids in the acute phase (14 for ≤ 3 days, 5 for 4+ days). CAA z-scores were assessed at baseline, 2-3 months, and 1 year after the acute phase. Linear regression models adjusted for repeated measures were used to determine the association between change in CAA z-score over time and corticosteroid use, adjusting for patient age at diagnosis, gender, intravenous immunoglobulin use, total days of fever, albumin level, hemoglobin level and platelet count.


RESULTS
The corticosteroid treated group had longer duration of fever in the acute phase (median 17 vs. 11 days, p=0.04). Adjusted CAA z-scores at diagnosis, 2-3 months and 1 year follow-up for CAA in the left anterior descending decreased (from +5.5 to +3.5 to +1.9) in those not treated with corticosteroids, but progressed for those treated with corticosteroids (from +7.4 to +17.5 to +15.8), regardless of duration of corticosteroid treatment. Similar results were noted for CAA of the right coronary artery and the left main coronary artery.


CONCLUSIONS
The use of corticosteroids in the acute phase of KD for patients with evolving CAAs may be associated with worsening involvement and impaired vascular remodelling and warrants further study.
Millar
Kyle
K
Division of Cardiology, Department of Pediatrics, University of Toronto, Labatt Family Heart Centre, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Canada.
Manlhiot
Cedric
C
Yeung
Rae S M
RS
Somji
Zeeshanefatema
Z
McCrindle
Brian W
BW
D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003323:Coronary Aneurysm / Q000139:chemically induced*; D005260:Female; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D009080:Mucocutaneous Lymph Node Syndrome / Q000188:drug therapy*; D011241:Prednisone / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012189:Retrospective Studies
D005938:Glucocorticoids; C008352:meprednisone; D011241:Prednisone