[Kawasaki disease: clinical characteristics and cardiovascular involvement in a cohort of 121 patients].

Kawasaki disease is an acute generalized self-limiting vasculitis of small and medium size arteries of unknown ethiology, mostly affecting children younger then 5 years of age. Coronary arteries may be involved with aneurysms lesions, thrombotic occlusion, acute coronary syndrome and sudden death. The mortality rate has been significantly reduced by combined therapy of intravenous immunoglobuline (IVIG) and acetil salicylic acid (ASA) from 3% to 0.2%. From February 1986 to November 2001, 121 children, 76 male and 45 females with Kawasaki disease, have been observed at the Paediatric Department, University of Florence. Coronary changes (i.e. coronary ectasia and coronary aneurysms) have been observed in 22.3%. In only one 3-months old child, giant aneurysms of coronary arteries and myocardial necrosis have been detected. In 26 of 27 children at 2D echo a remodelling of the coronary changes within 12 months from the onset of the illness was observed. The mean follow-up has been five years (range 6-138 months) and in no patient further cardiac manifestations have been observed; however, as little is known about the progression of vascular damage, a more protracted follow-up is needed.