Background: Kawasaki disease (KD) is a multisystem vasculitis affecting coronary arteries in children. Patients, refractory to standard treatment with intravenous immunoglobulin and aspirin, show higher rates of coronary artery dilation. Early tumor necrosis factor α receptor antagonism in KD may provide effective adjunctive therapy.
Study design: The EATAK trial is a multicenter, double-blind, randomized, and placebo-controlled trial intended to assess the efficacy of etanercept in reducing the intravenous immunoglobulin refractory rate during treatment of acute KD. Each arm will enroll 110 patients who will receive 3 doses of study drug over 2 weeks in conjunction with standard therapy. Coronary artery dilation parameters will serve as secondary end points.
Discussion: The EATAK trial will test a new paradigm for treatment of acute KD involving tumor necrosis factor α antagonism by etanercept.
Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT00841789.
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