title: Pulse Wave Velocity in Kawasaki Disease.
abstract: Kawasaki disease (KD) is an acute childhood febrile disease of unknown etiology. It exhibits not only coronary artery aneurysms in some cases but also systemic vasculitis. Whether KD is associated with accelerated atherosclerosis remains debatable. The measurement of pulse wave velocity (PWV) is useful as a simple, noninvasive measurement of arterial stiffness, an atherosclerotic manifestation. We herein present a systematic review of clinical studies that focused on PWV in patients with KD. A PubMed-based search identified 8 eligible studies published until June 2015. The PWV of patients with KD, regardless of antecedent coronary artery lesions, was high relative to controls, even though their blood pressure appeared to be similar. Although definitive conclusions cannot be made with the limited information, patients with KD may be at risk of systemic atherosclerosis in association with arterial stiffness. Further research, including longitudinal and outcome studies, is needed to determine the clinical significance of a potential increase in PWV in patients with KD.
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Clinical Laboratory Medicine, Jichi Medical University, Tochigi, Japan.
authors.forename: Yoshitaka
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Iwazu
authors.affiliation: 2 Department of Pediatrics, Jichi Medical University, Tochigi, Japan.
authors.forename: Takaomi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Minami
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Clinical Laboratory Medicine, Jichi Medical University, Tochigi, Japan.|3 Division of Community and Family Medicine, Jichi Medical University, Tochigi, Japan.
authors.forename: Kazuhiko
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kotani
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D062186:Arterial Pressure; D050197:Atherosclerosis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009080:Mucocutaneous Lymph Node Syndrome / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011379:Prognosis; D063177:Pulse Wave Analysis; D012307:Risk Factors; D059289:Vascular Stiffness; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: arterial stiffness; atherosclerosis; mucocutaneous lymph node syndrome; vasculitis