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Epidemiology and Management of Kawasaki Disease

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Abstract

Kawasaki disease (KD) is an acute systemic vasculitis affecting young children and is rising in incidence worldwide. It is most common in children <5 years of age, males and those of Asian ethnicity. It is an important cause of acquired heart disease in children. Standard treatment with high-dose aspirin (acetylsalicylic acid; ASA) and intravenous immune globulin (IVIG) has been shown to decrease the rate of coronary artery aneurysm development. Anti-coagulation has an important place in the management of KD, although guidance based on evidence is lacking. Treatment of refractory KD is an area under intense study and may include IVIG, corticosteroids and/or tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-α inhibitors among immunosuppressive agents. Acute complications of KD include myocarditis/KD shock syndrome and macrophage activation syndrome, which necessitate appropriate awareness in order to initiate proper management.

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Acknowledgements

RSMY is funded by an Investigator Award from The Arthritis Society of Canada.

The authors have no conflicts of interest that are directly relevant to the content of this article.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Pediatrics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada

    Nadia J. C. Luca &  Rae S. M. Yeung MD, PhD

  2. Division of Rheumatology, The Hospital for Sick Children, 555 University Avenue, Toronto, ON, M5G 1X8, Canada

    Nadia J. C. Luca

  3. Department of Immunology, University of Toronto, ON, Canada

    Rae S. M. Yeung MD, PhD

  4. Institute of Medical Science, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada

    Rae S. M. Yeung MD, PhD

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  1. Nadia J. C. Luca
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Correspondence to Rae S. M. Yeung MD, PhD.

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Luca, N.J.C., Yeung, R.S.M. Epidemiology and Management of Kawasaki Disease. Drugs 72, 1029–1038 (2012). https://doi.org/10.2165/11631440-000000000-00000

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