title: Cardiac complications in children with Kawasaki disease in our own experience.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Kawasaki disease is the most common cause of acquired heart disease in children in developed countries. The incidence of Kawasaki disease varies from 180 in Japan through 20 in United States to 5-8 in the European countries per 100,000 children younger than 5 years of age.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate cardiac complications in children hospitalised with Kawasaki disease.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective analysis of the medical records of patients hospitalised with Kawasaki disease in the Specialist Mother and Child Healthcare Facility in Poznan (Poland) in 2008-2014. The diagnosis was based on the American Heart Association criteria.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Study group included 30 patients (25 boys and 5 girls). The mean age was 49 months; 21 (70%) children were younger than 5 years of age. All patients had oral mucosal lesions, while an elevated leukocyte count was observed in a minority of patients. Cardiac involvement was detected in 18 (60%) patients, aneurysms in 4 (13.3%) patients, coronary artery dilatation in 6 patients, pericarditis in 6 patients, mitral regurgitation in 3 patients, and aortic regurgitation in 2 patients. In 5 children, more than 1 cardiac abnormality was detected. During 12 months of follow-up, coronary artery dilatation resolved in 5 children, and 1 patient developed aneurysm.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our findings suggest that Kawasaki disease should be considered in the differential diagnosis of children with prolonged fever. During the acute stage of the disease, children with Kawasaki disease require regular cardiac evaluation, and long-term care is needed when cardiovascular complications occur. A central case reporting system to monitor all cases of Kawasaki disease in the Polish paediatric population should be introduced.
authors.affiliation: Department of Family Medicine, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, Poland Specialist Mother and Child Healthcare Facility, Poznan, Poland. ewego@poczta.onet.pl.
authors.forename: Ewelina
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Gowin
authors.forename: Ilona
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Małecka
authors.forename: Joanna
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Stryczyńska-Kazubska
authors.forename: Michał
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Michalak
authors.forename: Jacek
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wysocki
authors.forename: Hanna
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Górzna-Kamińska
mesh_terms: D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000209:etiology*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D009080:Mucocutaneous Lymph Node Syndrome / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis; D011044:Poland; D012189:Retrospective Studies
keywords: Kawasaki disease; coronary artery aneurysm; fever