title: Increased aortic intima-media thickness following Kawasaki disease.
abstract: The cardiovascular risk following Kawasaki disease (KD), especially in those without coronary artery changes or with regressed coronary artery lesions, is unclear. We assessed markers of early atherosclerosis in individuals following KD, including those with and without coronary artery abnormalities.
  
  
  
  We performed a cross-sectional case-control study of 60 patients (25 with always normal coronary arteries and 35 with abnormalities) and 60 controls, at least two years after KD. Non-invasive assessment of arterial structure (carotid and aortic intima-media thickness (IMT)) and function (pulse wave velocity, carotid artery distensibility and diameter compliance) was done. Analyses were adjusted for traditional cardiovascular risk factors.
  
  
  
  Kawasaki disease patients had increased aortic IMT compared to controls (0.53 mm (95% CI 0.51-0.56) versus 0.49 (95% CI 0.47-0.52), p = 0.04), largely driven by those with abnormal coronary arteries. There were no differences in carotid IMT. Kawasaki disease patients with coronary artery abnormalities had reduced carotid distensibility compared to controls (15.16% (95% CI 13.67-16.65) versus 17.50 (95% CI 16.43-18.58), p = 0.02).
  
  
  
  Patients with KD have increased aortic IMT and reduced carotid distensibility, indicating heightened cardiovascular risk, especially in those with coronary artery abnormalities. In our study, we used validated surrogates for cardiovascular disease risk. Our findings, therefore, warrant follow-up investigations in KD patients.
authors.affiliation: Murdoch Childrens Research Institute, The Royal Children's Hospital, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia; Department of Paediatrics, University of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia; Infectious Diseases Unit and Department of General Medicine, The Royal Children's Hospital Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
authors.forename: Katherine Yh
authors.initials: KY
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Murdoch Childrens Research Institute, The Royal Children's Hospital, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
authors.forename: Diana
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Zannino
authors.affiliation: Murdoch Childrens Research Institute, The Royal Children's Hospital, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia; Department of Paediatrics, University of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia; Infectious Diseases Unit and Department of General Medicine, The Royal Children's Hospital Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
authors.forename: Nigel
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Curtis
authors.affiliation: Department of Paediatrics, University of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia; Heart Research Group, Murdoch Childrens Research Institute and Department of Cardiology, The Royal Children's Hospital, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cheung
authors.affiliation: Murdoch Childrens Research Institute, The Royal Children's Hospital, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia; Department of Paediatrics, University of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia; Department of Paediatrics, Monash University, Victoria, Australia. Electronic address: david.burgner@mcri.edu.au.
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Burgner
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001013:Aorta, Thoracic / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000503:physiopathology; D001916:Brachial Artery / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D017536:Carotid Artery, Common / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology; D059168:Carotid Intima-Media Thickness; D002648:Child; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D009080:Mucocutaneous Lymph Node Syndrome / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology; D063177:Pulse Wave Analysis / Q000379:methods*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D018570:Risk Assessment / Q000379:methods*; D012307:Risk Factors; D014739:Victoria / Q000453:epidemiology; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Aortic intima-media thickness; Carotid distensibility; Carotid intima-media thickness; Kawasaki disease; Pulse wave velocity