Coronary Diameters in Taiwanese Children Younger than 6 Years Old: Z-Score Regression Equations Derived from Body Surface Area.
BACKGROUND
The measurements of coronary diameters, usually obtained by 2-dimentsional echocardiography, play important roles oin the management and follow-up of Kawasaki disease (KD). However, in Taiwan, domestic normgrams and a Z-score calculator for coronary artery diameters are still not available.


METHODS
Echocardiography was performed on 412 healthy children younger than 6 years of age. The appropriate exponential regression model was fitted to correspond with body surface area (BSA). The computed Z-scores of all subjects were also tested for normal distribution.


RESULTS
Using the model ln (measurement) = β1 + β2 × ln (BSA), the adjusted R(2) values were 0.611 and 0.484 for the models of the left main coronary artery (LMCA) and the right (RCA), respectively. Analysis of computed Z-score distribution showed acceptable goodness of fit for a normal distribution [p = 0.90 (LMCA); p = 0.17 (RCA)].


CONCLUSIONS
We have established reference ranges for the coronary artery diameters in Taiwanese children younger than 6 years of age. The regression equations and Z-score calculators for the LMCA and RCA provide an objective determination of coronary dilatation in a large population, which is important for the care and medical management of KD patients in Taiwan.


BACKGROUND
Coronary diameter; Kawasaki disease; Taiwan; Z-score.
Department of Pediatrics, National Taiwan University Hospital and College of Medicine, National Taiwan University;
Ming-Tai
MT
Lin
Department of Medical Research, National Taiwan University Hospital;
Chin-Hao
CH
Chang
Department of Pediatrics, National Taiwan University Hospital and College of Medicine, National Taiwan University;
Wen-Chin
WC
Hsieh
Department of Pediatrics, National Taiwan University Hospital and College of Medicine, National Taiwan University;
Chi-En
CE
Chang
Department of Pediatrics, National Taiwan University Hospital and College of Medicine, National Taiwan University;
Ya-Mei
YM
Chang
Department of Pediatrics, Cathay General Hospital;
Yung-Chuan
YC
Chen
Department of Pediatrics, Buddhist Tzu-Chi General Hospital, Taipei Branch;
Jui-Yu
JY
Hsu
Department of Pediatrics, Wan Fang Hospital, Taipei Medical University;
Yi-Ling
YL
Huang
Department of Pediatrics, Far-East Memorial Hospital;
Juine-Yih
JY
Ma
Department of Pediatrics, Cardinal Tien Hospital;
Li-Chuan
LC
Sun
Department of Pediatrics, Taipei City Hospital;
Chi-Sen
CS
Wu
Department of Pediatrics, Far-East Memorial Hospital;
Su-Zen
SZ
Yeh
National Translational Medicine and Clinical Trial Resource Center, Taipei, Taiwan.
Wei-Quan
WQ
Fang
Department of Pediatrics, National Taiwan University Hospital and College of Medicine, National Taiwan University;
Chun-An
CA
Chen
Department of Pediatrics, National Taiwan University Hospital and College of Medicine, National Taiwan University;
Shuenn-Nan
SN
Chiu
Department of Pediatrics, National Taiwan University Hospital and College of Medicine, National Taiwan University;
Chun-Wei
CW
Lu
Department of Pediatrics, National Taiwan University Hospital and College of Medicine, National Taiwan University;
Jou-Kou
JK
Wang
Department of Pediatrics, National Taiwan University Hospital and College of Medicine, National Taiwan University;
Mei-Hwan
MH
Wu