Assessing the Association of Kawasaki Disease Symptoms and Echocardiographic Findings

Pediatr Cardiol. 2022 Apr;43(4):816-820. doi: 10.1007/s00246-021-02792-x. Epub 2021 Dec 2.

Abstract

Kawasaki disease is an acute systemic vasculitis which can cause cardiac involvement among other symptoms. In this study we aimed to assess the relationship between the echocardiographic findings of Kawasaki disease with the clinical and paraclinical findings of the patients. In this cross-sectional study, the symptoms of 307 Kawasaki patients were registered and the association of the symptoms with paraclinical findings and echocardiographic studies was assessed. 190 (61.9%) of the patients were male and 117 (38.1%) were female. 193 patients (62.9%) did not have any abnormalities in their echocardiography, while others showed coronary artery aneurysms, perivascular brightness, coronary artery dilatation, and trivial Mitral Regurgitation in their echocardiography. A significant inverse relationship was seen with echocardiographic findings and age. Thrombocytosis, conjunctivitis, and oral and/or pharyngeal erythema and/or strawberry tongue were associated with higher rates of echocardiographic abnormalities. Echocardiographic abnormalities are associated with younger age, higher platelets, and the existence of conjunctivitis and oral and/or pharyngeal erythema and/or strawberry tongue.

Keywords: Echocardiography; Kawasaki disease; Pediatric rheumatology; Vasculitis.

MeSH terms

  • Conjunctivitis* / complications
  • Coronary Aneurysm* / etiology
  • Cross-Sectional Studies
  • Echocardiography
  • Erythema / complications
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Infant
  • Male
  • Mucocutaneous Lymph Node Syndrome* / complications
  • Mucocutaneous Lymph Node Syndrome* / diagnostic imaging