Incomplete Kawasaki syndrome followed by systemic onset-juvenile idiopathic arthritis mimicking Kawasaki syndrome

Features and Clinical Course of Infantile Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis

BACKGROUND

Juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) is a heterogeneous group of 7 chronic arthritides categories that affects children younger than 16 years. This case series elucidates the characteristics of patients from a single center diagnosed with JIA at younger than 12 months.

METHODS

We included patients who presented to the rheumatology clinic for JIA with symptom onset at younger than 1 year. Chart review was conducted to complete case report forms that included demographics, historical features, examination features, laboratory results, imaging results, and treatment courses.

RESULTS

We identified 12 patients who met our inclusion criteria. Eight of our patients were diagnosed with oligoarticular JIA, 3 had polyarticular JIA, and 1 was diagnosed with systemic JIA. Overall, 58% (7/12) of patients had joint contractures at their initial visit. Of the patients with oligoarticular JIA, 50% (4/8) required a disease-modifying antirheumatic drug to achieve disease remission; 12.5% (1/8) required biologic therapy. All of the polyarticular JIA patients had highly positive antinuclear antibodies, as well as elevated inflammatory markers.

CONCLUSIONS

Children with infantile JIA are overall similar to the larger population of patients with JIA. Disease severity may not be different compared with that of older children with JIA; however, there is likely a larger delay in diagnosis and the presence of contractures, which occurred in more than half of our patients.

Incidence of Chronic Immune-Mediated Inflammatory Diseases After Diagnosis with Kawasaki Disease: A Population-Based Cohort Study

OBJECTIVES

Kawasaki disease (kDa) is an immune-mediated vasculitis of childhood with multi-organ inflammation. We determined the risk of subsequent immune-mediated inflammatory disease (IMID), including arthritis, type 1 diabetes, inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), autoimmune liver disease (ALD), primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC) and multiple sclerosis (MS).

METHODS

We conducted a matched population-based cohort study using health administrative data from Ontario, Canada. Children aged <18 years born between 1991-2016 diagnosed with kDa (n = 3,753) were matched to 5 non-kDa controls from the general population (n = 18 749). We determined the incidence of IMIDs after resolution of kDa. Three- and 12-month washout periods were used to exclude kDa-related symptoms.

RESULTS

There was an elevated risk of arthritis in kDa patients compared with non-kDa controls starting three months after index date (103.0 vs 12.7 per 100 000 person-years (PYs); incidence rate ratio (IRR) 8.07 (95% CI 4.95-13.2); hazard ratio (HR) 8.08 (95% CI 4.95-13.2), resulting in the overall incidence of IMIDs being elevated in kDa patients (175.1 vs 68.0 per 100 000 PYs; IRR 2.58 (95% CI 1.93-3.43); HR 2.58, 95% CI 1.94-3.43). However, there was no increased risk for diabetes, IBD, ALD, PSC or MS in kDa patients. Similar results were observed using a 12-month washout period.

CONCLUSIONS

Children diagnosed with kDa were at increased risk of arthritis following the acute kDa event, but not other IMIDs. Health care providers should monitor for arthritis in children following a diagnosis of kDa.

Kawasaki disease mimickers

BACKGROUND

Kawasaki disease (KD) is an acute systemic vasculitis that predominantly affects patients younger than 5 years. In the absence of an available, affordable diagnostic test, detailed clinical history and physical examination are still fundamental to make a diagnosis.

METHODS

We present five representative cases with KD-like presentations: systemic onset juvenile idiopathic arthritis, mycoplasma-induced rash and mucositis, staphylococcal scalded skin syndrome, BCGosis, and the recently described multisystemic inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C) associated with the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV2) virus.

RESULTS

Rash, fever, and laboratory markers of inflammation can be present in several childhood diseases that may mimic KD.

CONCLUSION

The term 'Kawasaki syndrome' instead of 'Kawasaki disease' may be more appropriate. Physicians should consider an alternative diagnosis that may mimic KD, particularly considering MIS-C during the present pandemic, as an aggressive diagnostic and therapeutic approach is needed.

Overlapping Features in Kawasaki Disease-Related Arthritis and Systemic-Onset Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis: A Nationwide Study in Japan

Background: Arthritis may occur after the diagnosis of Kawasaki disease (KD). Most cases are self-limiting; however, some patients require prolonged treatment. Method: To characterize KD-related arthritis, 14 patients who required arthritis treatment within 30 days after the diagnosis of KD were recruited from the 23rd KD survey in Japan. Twenty-six additional patients were included from our tertiary center and literature review cohorts. Results: The estimated prevalence of KD-related arthritis in Japan was 48 per 100,000 KD patients. Patients with KD-related arthritis had an older age at onset (52 vs. 28 months, P = 0.002) and higher rate of intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) resistance in comparison to those without arthritis (86 vs. 17%, P < 0.001). Among 40 patients, 18 had arthritis in the acute phase KD (continued fever-onset type) and 22 did in the convalescent phase (interval fever-onset type). Both showed a similar rate of complete KD or IVIG response. Interval-type patients required biologics for arthritis control less frequently (5 vs. 39%, P = 0.02) and had a higher 2-year off-treatment rate (100 vs. 43%, P = 0.009) than continued-type ones. Interval-types showed lower serum ferritin and interleukin-18 levels than continued-types. When continued-types were grouped according to whether or not they required biologics (n = 7 and n = 11, respectively), the former subgroup had higher ferritin and interleukin-18 levels (P = 0.01 and 0.02, respectively). A canonical discriminant analysis differentiated interval-type from continued-type with the combination of age, time to arthritis, and the ferritin and matrix metalloproteinase-3 levels. Conclusion: Arthritis requiring treatment is a rare complication of KD. KD-associated arthritis includes interval-type (KD-reactive) and continued-type (true systemic-onset juvenile idiopathic arthritis [JIA] requiring biologics), and overlapping arthritis, suggesting the pathophysiological continuity of autoinflammation between KD and JIA.

Kawasaki disease: characteristics, diagnosis, and unusual presentations

Introduction: Kawasaki disease (KD) is one of the commonest pediatric vasculitides and is associated with a significant risk of development of coronary artery abnormalities if left untreated. Areas covered: In this review, we have highlighted the incomplete and unusual presentations of KD and also emphasize the controversies pertaining to 2D echocardiography in KD. A PubMed search was performed regarding diagnosis and unusual presentations of KD. Expert opinion: Diagnosis of KD is essentially clinical and based on recognition of typical clinical features that may appear sequentially and all signs and symptoms may not be present at one point of time. There is no confirmatory laboratory test for diagnosis of this condition. Further complicating the picture is the fact that incomplete and atypical forms KD may be seen in up to 50% patients. Although 2D echocardiography continues to be the preferred imaging modality for cardiac assessment in patients with KD, it has its limitations.

Pediatric rheumatologic diseases: A review for primary care NPs

Rheumatologic diseases are uncommon in children but have the potential for significant morbidity, mortality, and disability. This article reviews the most common rheumatologic diseases in children, their diagnostic evaluations, and the NP's role in the management and coordination of these conditions.

A case of incomplete Kawasaki disease with extremely high serum ferritin and interleukin-18 levels

Background

The clinical features and laboratory parameters of patients with Kawasaki disease (KD) and systemic juvenile idiopathic arthritis (sJIA) occasionally overlap. Therefore, serum levels of cytokine and ferritin are used as markers to distinguish between KD and sJIA. KD patients have a high level of interleukin (IL)-6, low level of IL-18, and no elevation of the level of serum ferritin. Conversely, sJIA patients have a low level of IL-6 and high levels of IL-18 and ferritin in the serum. However, to the best of our knowledge, no case report of KD with a low serum level of IL-6 and extremely high levels of IL-18 and ferritin is found.

Case presentation

A 6-year-old boy presented with a history of fever for 9 days and a rash that appeared 7 days from the onset. He was diagnosed with incomplete KD because of fever, skin rash, oral cavity erythematous changes, and erythema and edema of the hands with laboratory findings of serum albumin level < 3.0 g/dL, elevated alanine aminotransferase level and leukocyturia. Intravenous immunoglobulin and prednisolone and oral aspirin were introduced on the 10th day. Fever subsided 1 day after initiating the treatment, but arthritis of both knees appeared in addition to hepatosplenomegaly. We suspected sJIA, as the serum level of ferritin was 19,740 ng/mL, IL-6 was < 3 pg/mL, and IL-18 was 132,000 pg/mL. Skin desquamation of the fingertips was observed 18 days from the onset; thus, he was finally diagnosed with incomplete KD with arthritis. At 32 days from the onset, we stopped the prednisolone therapy and no symptoms of relapse were observed afterwards. In the follow-up at 16 months from the onset, he had neither signs of active joint or skin involvement, nor cardiac involvement.

Conclusions

Although patients with sJIA generally have high serum levels of IL-18 and ferritin, this was a case of incomplete KD with extremely high serum levels of IL-18 and ferritin. Serum cytokine and ferritin are often used for the differential diagnosis of KD and sJIA. We need to recognize the existence of KD with high serum levels of IL-18 and ferritin.

Arthritis in Kawasaki disease: A poorly recognised manifestation

AIM

To determine the prevalence of arthritis in Kawasaki disease (KD) and the clinical characteristics of children with KD and arthritis.

METHODS

This was a single-centre, 15-year, retrospective study of children admitted with KD. Clinical features (including coronary involvement), laboratory results and treatment response were evaluated.

RESULTS

Of 63 children with KD, 60.3% were male, with a median of age of 2.0 years. Complete KD was found in 68.3%. The time from symptom onset to treatment was 7.0 days (median); 30.7% had coronary artery aneurysms, from which 82.5% responded to intravenous immunoglobulin. During the course of their illness, eight children developed arthritis (12.7%), which was early onset in six (75%) and oligoarticular in five (62.5%). The median number of joints was 3.5 (P₂₅ = 1.3, P₇₅ = 17.0), and at least one large joint was affected. In all cases, the arthritis was self-limited and left no sequelae, lasting a median of 14 days and no longer than 22 days. KD children with arthritis were older (P = 0.025), and those with early-onset arthritis responded to first-line therapy, unlike the late-onset group (P = 0.018).

CONCLUSIONS

This study emphasises the value of a systematic articular examination of joints in KD. Refractory KD was observed in children with late-onset arthritis.

Diagnosis of systemic-onset juvenile idiopathic arthritis after treatment for presumed Kawasaki disease

OBJECTIVES

To estimate the incidence of systemic-onset juvenile idiopathic arthritis (SoJIA) within 6 months after treatment for presumed Kawasaki disease (KD) (presumed patients with KD with subsequent diagnosis of SoJIA [pKD/SoJIA]) and describe presentation differences from sole KD.

STUDY DESIGN

We identified patients treated for KD at Nationwide Children's Hospital and from the Pediatric Health Information System from 2009-2013. We then identified the subset of children, pKD/SoJIA, who received an International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision code for SoJIA and had it listed at least once 3 months after and within 6 months after KD diagnosis. Demographic characteristics, readmission rates, treatments, and complications were noted. A literature review was also performed to identify clinical, laboratory, and echocardiographic data of previously documented patients with KD later diagnosed with SoJIA.

RESULTS

There were 6745 total treated patients with KD in the Pediatric Health Information System database during the study period; 10 patients were identified to have pKD/SoJIA (0.2% of cohort). Those with pKD/SoJIA were predominantly Caucasian compared with patients with KD (90% and 46.8%, respectively; P=.003). Macrophage activation syndrome was more common in patients with pKD/SoJIA than in sole patients with KD (30% and 0.30%, respectively; P<.001). Fifteen cases of pKD/SoJIA were identified by literature and chart review, 12 of whom were initially diagnosed with incomplete KD.

CONCLUSIONS

We reported a 0.2% incidence of pKD/SoJIA, which was associated with Caucasian race, macrophage activation syndrome, and an incomplete KD phenotype.

[A review of Kawasaki disease, a perspective from the articles published in Mexico since January 1977 to May 2012]

Kawasaki disease was described in 1967 by Tomisu Kawasaki. It affects children aged between one and 5 years, and it evolves with fever and small vessel vasculitis, which leads to cardiovascular complications, including coronary aneurisms, myocarditis, valve injuries, pericardial effusion and myocardial infarction; eventually involving many others organs. The etiology actually is not well known, as the exactly pathogenic mechanisms; however, now there are important advances. If the clinical signs and symptoms are identify early and the children received treatment with aspirin and intravenous immunoglobulin, the patients evolves without sequels. The Kawasaki disease is an infrequent disease in Mexico.

Incomplete Kawasaki disease followed by systemic onset juvenile idiopathic arthritis- the diagnostic dilemma

The authors report an 18-mo-old girl who presented with features of incomplete Kawasaki disease and was refractory to intravenous immunoglobulin and infliximab treatment. She subsequently responded to pulse intravenous methylprednisolone therapy. The diagnostic dilemma arose after 2 mo when she developed clinical features suggestive of systemic onset juvenile idiopathic arthritis. Since both diseases have overlapping clinical features and no specific diagnostic laboratory tests, it is difficult for the clinicians even in the best of centers to reach a definitive diagnosis as illustrated by the index case.

A girl with extremely refractory Kawasaki disease: an instructive case with unusual course and outcome

Kawasaki disease constitutes an acute febrile vasculitis of unknown aetiology. It is considered the most common cause of acquired cardiac failure in children. Although standard treatment comprises intravenous immunoglobulin and aspirin, some children exhibit refractory disease, necessitating the use of alternative therapies such as corticosteroids and anti-tumour necrosis factor-alpha. For these cases, few controlled data are available. This report focuses on an extremely refractory classical Kawasaki disease with coronary artery aneurysms and ongoing inflammation. We discuss the therapeutic approaches and the potential pitfalls undertaken, which led to an unfavourable clinical outcome.