Retrospective review of Kawasaki disease at the Women's and Children's Hospital, South Australia.

AIM

Kawasaki disease (KD) is one of the most common causes of acquired cardiac disease in children in high-income countries. The incidence of coronary artery disease (CAD), despite treatment with intravenous immunoglobulin, ranges from 5 to 20%. Determining risk factors for CAD may assist with management and reduce long-term complications.

METHODS

Retrospective data were collected for all patients presenting to the Women's and Children's Hospital with a discharge diagnosis of KD over a 10.5-year period, from 2007 to 2018.

RESULTS

A total of 141 patients were included in the review; 101 patients fulfilled complete criteria for KD; 25 incomplete criteria and 15 did not meet criteria but were treated for KD. CAD was present in 27.7% of all patients, ranging from ectasia to giant aneurysms based on Z-scores and echocardiogram descriptions. Medium to large aneurysms accounted for 8.5% of all patients with suspected KD. Patients with CAD were more likely to: fulfil incomplete criteria (odds ratio (OR) 4.3, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.7-10.8, P = 0.0027), be less than 12 months of age (OR 11.38, 95% CI 2.94-44.11, P = 0.0001), have CRP > 100 (OR 2.8, 95% CI 1.31-6.02, P = 0.0068) and have a delay in treatment (average day of illness prior to treatment 8.89 vs. 6.78 (OR 1.19, 95% CI 1.05-1.35, P = 0.0055)). Patients with a Kobayashi score ≥4 had a higher rate of re-treatment with intravenous immunoglobulin (OR 3.16, 95% CI 1.27-7.83, P = 0.013).

CONCLUSION

Our data are consistent with previously reported risk factors, and high rates of CAD despite standard treatment.