Kawasaki Disease in 159 Iranian Children

Background: The diagnosis of Kawasaki Disease (KD) is made by clinical criteria. Intravenous immunoglubolin is dramatically effective in this disease. The aim of this study was to describe the initial diagnosis of Kawasaki disease in Iranian children. We describe the clinical manifestation, organ involvement, management, rate of cardiac anomaly and treatment of Kawasaki disease in Iran.
Materials and Methods: This prospective multicenter study enrolled 159 children with Kawasaki disease. Medical records of all cases of KD treated at pediatric rheumatology department of Children's Hospital between January 1994 and July 2004 were reviewed.
Results: One-hundred fifty-nine patients were identified. Demographic features were similar to those reported by other countries. One hundred twenty-five children fulfilled the criteria for typical KD while thirty-four cases had atypical KD. Echocardiographic abnormalities were found in 30 cases, including 20 with coronary arteries aneurysms, and 10 with other abnormalities, but abnormalities were eventually resolved in 15 cases, and remained in 5 cases.
Conclusion: Kawasaki disease is a pediatric febrile systemic vasculitis, affecting any organ; although it seems to have a predilection for coronary vessels. It is important to consider KD in any children with unexplained fever. Careful initial evaluation, treatment in the acute phase, and long-term management of patients with coronary artery involvement are recommended.