Successful thrombolytic therapy using tissue-type plasminogen activator in Kawasaki disease

Treatment of thrombosis in KD Patients using tissue plasminogen activator: a single center study

OBJECTIVE

The most severe complication associated with giant coronary aneurysm in children with Kawasaki disease is ischemic cardiomyopathy (ICM) caused by thrombosis. Addition of tissue plasminogen activator, Alteplase, in the treatment regimen can be an efficient thrombolytic therapy, and therefore can have a significantly positive impact on patients' quality of life in long term.

METHODS

Total four male KD patients with central thromboses in coronary aneurysm were treated in Pediatric Cardiology Department of Shengjing Hospital, China Medical University, from January 2020 to August 2021. These patients received thrombolytic treatments including Alteplase once + Heparin for 1 week followed by continuous oral Warfarin + Aspirin + Clopidogrel.

RESULTS

4 young male KD patients had coronary aneurysm (CAA) complicated with total 7 occurrences of central thrombosis. These patients were given alteplase and heparin/oral Warfarin + Aspirin + Clopidogrel treatment. 9 days to 2 months later, thromboses were significantly dissolved. The treatment successfully diminished the thrombosis complication.

CONCLUSION

1. Pediatric KD patients complicated with coronary aneurysm thrombosis are prone to recurrence of thrombosis. 2.  In KD patients complicated with coronary aneurysm thrombosis, treatments described in Method can be used for treating either small thromboses formed less than 1 month with strong echo and convex lumen or large thromboses with mixed strong and weak echo. With these treatments, coronary artery blood flow can be improved or completely recovered. 3. Clinical experiences at our center in treating these KD patients suggest that Alteplase can be considered in thrombolytic treatment beyond the limitation of less than 12 h of thrombosis occurrence.

Diagnosis, Treatment, and Long-Term Management of Kawasaki Disease: A Scientific Statement for Health Professionals From the American Heart Association

BACKGROUND

Kawasaki disease is an acute vasculitis of childhood that leads to coronary artery aneurysms in ≈25% of untreated cases. It has been reported worldwide and is the leading cause of acquired heart disease in children in developed countries.

METHODS AND RESULTS

To revise the previous American Heart Association guidelines, a multidisciplinary writing group of experts was convened to review and appraise available evidence and practice-based opinion, as well as to provide updated recommendations for diagnosis, treatment of the acute illness, and long-term management. Although the cause remains unknown, discussion sections highlight new insights into the epidemiology, genetics, pathogenesis, pathology, natural history, and long-term outcomes. Prompt diagnosis is essential, and an updated algorithm defines supplemental information to be used to assist the diagnosis when classic clinical criteria are incomplete. Although intravenous immune globulin is the mainstay of initial treatment, the role for additional primary therapy in selected patients is discussed. Approximately 10% to 20% of patients do not respond to initial intravenous immune globulin, and recommendations for additional therapies are provided. Careful initial management of evolving coronary artery abnormalities is essential, necessitating an increased frequency of assessments and escalation of thromboprophylaxis. Risk stratification for long-term management is based primarily on maximal coronary artery luminal dimensions, normalized as Z scores, and is calibrated to both past and current involvement. Patients with aneurysms require life-long and uninterrupted cardiology follow-up.

CONCLUSIONS

These recommendations provide updated and best evidence-based guidance to healthcare providers who diagnose and manage Kawasaki disease, but clinical decision making should be individualized to specific patient circumstances.

Combination thrombolytic and anti-platelet therapies in an infant with incomplete kawasaki disease and coronary aneurysms

A 3-month-old infant was transferred to our facility with persistent fever and concerns for septic shock. A 2-D echocardiogram revealed multiple coronary aneurysms and axillary and coronary artery thrombi, and a diagnosis of incomplete Kawasaki disease (KD) was established. Aggressive therapies including intravenous immunoglobulins, enoxaparin, abciximab, aspirin, and alteplase were used to decrease the size of the coronary aneurysms and inhibit further thrombus formation. After minimal change in the size of coronary aneurysms and in thrombus formation, clopidogrel was added. Approximately 2 weeks after initiation of these therapies, a decrease in the coronary aneurysm size was noted with no signs of thrombus. This case documents successful use of thrombolytic and combination anti-platelet agents (i.e., clopidogrel, abciximab, and aspirin) in an infant with KD and cardiovascular sequelae.

Current perspectives on Kawasaki disease

The etiology of Kawasaki disease (KD) remains unknown despite several years of dedicated research in this direction. Recently coronavirus infection and genetic polymorphisms have been implicated. Since first description of the disease there have been few changes in the diagnostic criteria except for newer recommendations of fever of at least 4 instead of 5 days duration. Recently, Echocardiography Criteria and Laboratory Criteria have been added to aid in the diagnosis of incomplete KD where all the historical diagnostic criteria are not present; this is now called the "incomplete form of KD" as opposed to "atypical form of KD". The word "atypical" is reserved for unusual presentations of KD such as those with hemophagocytic syndrome or nerve palsy. The treatment of KD includes infusion of high dose immunoglobulin. Patients non-responsive to immunoglobulin therapy are labeled as having "immunoglobulin resistant KD". The treatment of immunoglobulin resistant KD can be challenging and new therapies that have tried with some success. Late outcomes after 4 decades of treating these patients have recently been published. There has been some concern about increased risk for premature atherosclerosis in patients with childhood KD who had coronary artery abnormalities.

Kawasaki Disease: Current Therapeutic Perspectives

Kawasaki disease is an acute systemic vasculitis of unknown etiology that has become the most common form of acquired heart disease in young children in developing countries. The most serious threat from Kawasaki disease is the development of coronary vasculitis, with subsequent development of aneurysms, thrombosis, and coronary compromise. Standard treatment during the acute phase of Kawasaki disease now consists of intravenous gamma globulin, 2 g/kg, given as a single dose, and high-dose aspirin therapy, 80 to 100 mg/kg daily. When instituted within 10 days of the onset of illness, this approach has reduced the incidence of coronary artery abnormalities from 20% to 25% to approximately 5% at 6 to 8 weeks after initiation of treatment. Despite these therapeutic successes, the optimal management of certain patient groups with Kawasaki disease remains unclear or controversial. This includes patients with persistent or recrudescent fever and inflammation despite prompt initiation of standard therapy, and patients developing coronary arterial aneurysms. For patients with persistent or recrudescent fever, there are increasing reports suggesting that corticosteroid therapy, in addition to retreatment with intravenous gamma globulin, may be useful. Newer antiplatelet agents are being introduced that may improve outcome in children who develop acute coronary artery lesions. Long-term therapy of patients with coronary artery aneurysms typically consists of long-term aspirin therapy; the use of additional antiplatelet agents and anticoagulants is often used in clinical practice, but not universally accepted.