Kawasaki syndrome and concurrent Coxsackie virus B3 infection.
We describe two previously healthy children who were hospitalized in the same period in different departments of our University with clinical signs of Kawasaki syndrome, which were treated with intravenous immunoglobulins and acetylsalicylic acid: in both cases, Coxsackie virus infection was concurrently demonstrated by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and complement fixation test identified antibodies to serotype B3. In the acute phase, both patients presented hyperechogenic coronary arteries, but no cardiologic sequels in the mid term. The etiological relationship between Kawasaki syndrome and Coxsackie viruses is only hypothetical; however, the eventual identification of ad hoc environmental triggers is advisable in front of children with Kawasaki syndrome, with the aim of optimizing epidemiological surveillance and understanding the intimate biological events of this condition.
Department of Pediatric Sciences, Università Cattolica Sacro Cuore, Largo A. Gemelli, 8, 00168 Rome, Italy. drigante@gmail.com
Donato
D
Rigante
Luca
L
Cantarini
Marco
M
Piastra
Donatella Francesca
DF
Angelone
Piero
P
Valentini
Manuela
M
Pardeo
Danilo
D
Buonsenso
Angelica Bibiana
AB
Delogu
Daniele
D
Serranti
Alessia
A
De Nisco
Adele
A
Compagnone
Gabriella
G
De Rosa
D002675:Child, Preschool; D003384:Coxsackievirus Infections / Q000150:complications* / Q000276:immunology; D029822:Enterovirus B, Human / Q000276:immunology / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D009080:Mucocutaneous Lymph Node Syndrome / Q000150:complications* / Q000276:immunology