Painful jaundice revealing Kawasaki disease in a young man

J Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2004 Jun;19(6):713-5. doi: 10.1111/j.1440-1746.2002.02903.x.

Abstract

Liver involvement is usually a minor manifestation of Kawasaki disease and includes hepatobiliary dysfunction or gallbladder hydrops. We describe here an unusual case of jaundice revealing an adult onset Kawasaki disease. An 18-year-old man presented with abdominal pain and jaundice associated with cholestasis as the initial manifestation of Kawasaki disease. Abdominal evaluation (ultrasonography and CT-scan) did not find abnormality. Other signs typical of the Kawasaki disease occurred a few days later and permitted diagnosis. With aspirin and intravenous immunoglobulins, outcome was favorable without any cardiovascular complication. Our case suggests that Kawasaki disease should be added to the etiological list of painful febrile icterus in young patients.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Abdominal Pain / physiopathology*
  • Adolescent
  • Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / therapeutic use
  • Aspirin / therapeutic use
  • Cholestasis / etiology
  • Humans
  • Immunoglobulins, Intravenous / therapeutic use
  • Jaundice / etiology*
  • Jaundice / physiopathology*
  • Male
  • Mucocutaneous Lymph Node Syndrome / complications*
  • Mucocutaneous Lymph Node Syndrome / drug therapy
  • Treatment Outcome

Substances

  • Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal
  • Immunoglobulins, Intravenous
  • Aspirin