title: [Immunoglobulin therapy].
abstract: Kawasaki disease(KD) is an acute, self-limited vasculitis of unknown etiology that predominantly affects infants and children. Coronary artery(CA) aneurysms, the most severe complication, occur in 25 % of untreated children and may lead to ischemic heart disease, myocardial infarction, or sudden death. While a single high dose of intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) terminates the fever and acute inflammation in most subjects and dramatically reduces the incidence of CA aneurysms, 10 to 20 % of KD patients are IVIG- resistant and these subjects are at higher risk of developing CA abnormalities. Several mechanisms have been reported for the anti-inflammatory activity of IVIG in different disease states. In this review, we describe the clinical utility and these mechanisms of IVIG in KD.
authors.forename: Shohei
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ogata
authors.forename: Masahiro
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ishii
mesh_terms: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D007116:Immunization, Passive; D016756:Immunoglobulins, Intravenous / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D009080:Mucocutaneous Lymph Node Syndrome / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic
chemical_list: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D016756:Immunoglobulins, Intravenous