Guidelines for medical treatment of acute Kawasaki disease: report of the Research Committee of the Japanese Society of Pediatric Cardiology and Cardiac Surgery (2012 revised version)

Decreased Serum Apolipoprotein CIII in the Acute Phase of Kawasaki Disease

Plasma exchange is an effective treatment for Kawasaki disease (KD), suggesting that plasma from patients with KD bears its causative agents. The aim of this study was to use mass spectrometry to identify candidate agents in patient sera. Serum samples were obtained from 17 KD patients. In six patients, samples were collected in each of three phases: the acute phase prior to acetylsalicylic acid (ASA) and intravenous immunoglobulin administration (Phase A1), the remission phase with ASA (Phase A2), and the remission phase without any medication (Phase A3). Sera from the remaining 11 patients were collected during Phases A1 and A2. The study also included two age- and gender-matched control groups, one with eight afebrile children and one with eight febrile children diagnosed with infectious disease. Patients in Phase A1 and febrile controls did not differ in body temperature, white blood cell counts, or C-reactive protein levels. Mass spectrometry analysis revealed that the intensity levels of m/z 9416, identified as apolipoprotein CIII (Apo CIII), were lower in Phase A1 samples compared with samples from patients in Phases A2 and A3, and from febrile controls (all comparisons, p < 0.01). Serum Apo CIII levels were also lower in Phase A1 samples compared with samples from Phase A2 patients and afebrile controls (both p < 0.01), but samples from patients in Phase A2 did not differ significantly from those of the afebrile controls (p = 0.55). This study demonstrated that serum Apo CIII level was decreased in the acute phase of KD.

Different dose aspirin plus immunoglobulin (DAPI) for prevention of coronary artery abnormalities in Kawasaki disease: Study protocol for a multi-center, prospective, randomized, open-label, blinded end-point, non-inferiority trial

BACKGROUND

Kawasaki disease is a pediatric acute systemic vasculitis that specifically involves the coronary arteries. Timely initiation of immunoglobulin plus aspirin is necessary for diminishing the incidence of coronary artery abnormalities (CAAs). The optimal dose of aspirin, however, remains controversial. The trial aims to evaluate if low-dose aspirin is noninferior to moderate-dose in reducing the risk of CAAs during the initial treatment of Kawasaki disease.

METHODS

This is a multi-center, prospective, randomized, open-label, blinded endpoint, noninferiority trial to be conducted in China. The planned study duration is from 2023 to 2026. Data will be analyzed according to intention-to-treat principles. Participants are children and adolescents under the age of 18 with Kawasaki disease, recruited from the inpatient units. A sample size of 1,346 participants will provide 80% power with a one-sided significance level of 0.025. Qualifying children will be randomized (1:1) to receive either intravenous immunoglobulin (2 g/kg) plus oral moderate-dose aspirin (30-50 mg·kg-1·d-1) until the patient is afebrile for at least 48 hours, or immunoglobulin plus low-dose aspirin (3-5 mg·kg-1·d-1) as initial treatment. The primary outcome will be the occurrence of CAAs at 8 weeks after immunoglobulin infusion. Independent blinded pediatric cardiologists will assess the primary endpoint using echocardiography.

CONCLUSIONS

There is a shortage of consensus on the dose of aspirin therapy for Kawasaki disease due to the lack of evidence. The results of our randomized trial will provide more concrete evidence for the efficacy and adverse events of low- or moderate-dose aspirin in the acute phase of Kawasaki disease.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

www.chictr.org.cn: ChiCTR2300072686.

The efficacy and safety of intravenous immunoglobulin infusion in 12 h for the initial treatment of Kawasaki disease

BACKGROUND

Approximately 10-20 % of individuals develop a recrudescent or persistent fever after intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) infusion for the initial treatment of Kawasaki disease. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of the initial IVIG treatment of Kawasaki disease based on duration of infusion.

METHODS

This retrospective, single-center study included 53 patients with Kawasaki disease who were initially treated with 2 g/kg of IVIG by means of a single infusion from June 2018 to August 2019. We classified patients into two groups based on the duration of the infusion: the 12-h group and the 24-h group. We compared the treatment response of the primary IVIG and its adverse events using the Mann-Whitney U test and Fisher's exact or Chi-square tests.

RESULTS

There were no significant differences in the response to initial IVIG treatment between the two groups. The duration from treatment onset to defervescence was shorter in the 12-h group than the 24-h group (7 h vs. 12 h, respectively, p = 0.07); however, this was not significant. There were no significant between-group differences regarding adverse events.

CONCLUSION

We concluded that the initial 12-h IVIG treatment was comparable to the 24-h treatment in terms of efficacy and safety. This will enable physicians to feel confident about pursuing a shorter course of treatment with similar results as conventional treatment and decide on administering additional therapy to their patients.

Initial intravenous immunoglobulin therapy without aspirin for acute Kawasaki disease: a retrospective cohort study with a Bayesian inference

OBJECTIVE

To clarify the necessity of acetylsalicylic acid (ASA) administration combined with intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) therapy in the treatment of acute Kawasaki disease.

DESIGN

Retrospective cohort study.

SETTING

Multicentre.

PARTICIPANTS

This study included 735 patients with Kawasaki disease aged ≤10 years and hospitalised between 4 and 10 days of illness in eight Japanese hospitals from January 2016 to December 2020.

EXPOSURES

High-dose (HD) ASA was administered with initial IVIG to 333 patients in 6 hospitals (HD group). ASA was not administered routinely to 402 patients in the other two hospitals, and low-dose ASA was only administered when patients developed coronary artery lesions or pericardial effusion (non-HD group).

PRIMARY AND SECONDARY OUTCOME MEASURES

The primary outcome was the presence of coronary artery lesions, defined as a coronary artery diameter >+2.5 SD of body surface area within 1 month of onset. The secondary outcome was responsiveness to the initial IVIG therapy. Adjusted risk ratios for the outcomes were calculated using modified Poisson regression models. Bayesian analysis was conducted to estimate the posterior probability of the treatment effect of HD ASA under several prior distributions.

RESULTS

The incidence of coronary artery lesions was not significantly higher in the HD group than in the non-HD group (12/333 (3.6%) vs 15/402 (4.0%)). The proportion of non-responders to initial IVIG was similar between the two groups (HD group: 78/333 (23%); non-HD group: 83/402 (22%)). In the Bayesian analysis, considering a difference of ≤2% to be of no clinical importance, there was only a 9.3% chance of reduced risk of coronary artery lesions in the HD group compared with the non-HD group even with a strongly enthusiastic prior for HD treatment.

CONCLUSIONS

Compared with HD ASA treatment, treatment without ASA in the acute phase of Kawasaki disease was not associated with increased complications from Kawasaki disease.

Jaundice-predominant manifestation of Kawasaki disease in children

Background

A jaundice-predominant presentation of Kawasaki disease (KD) is atypical.

Methods

A total of 12 children with KD with a predominant manifestation of jaundice at MacKay Children's Hospital were reviewed, along with 42 cases reported in the literature since 1990.

Results

The median age of the 12 patients was 1.85 years (range: 3 months-4 years), and 66.6% were male. All of the patients had elevated liver function at presentation, 50% had hydrops of the gallbladder, and almost 60% had gastrointestinal symptoms and signs. Complete KD was evident in 11 of the 12 patients (91.7%), and two patients (16.7%) had recurrent episodes. All of the patients received intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG); however, one-third were refractory to treatment. Corticosteroids were used in five (41.7%) of the patients. Three (25%) of the patients had shock, and seven (58.3%) had coronary artery abnormalities, of whom one (8.3%) had persistent coronary artery aneurysm and the others recovered. A review of the 42 cases in the literature showed that the children with a jaundice-predominant presentation of KD had high rates of IVIG-refractory disease (25%), coronary artery abnormalities (25%), shock (13.2%), and corticosteroid treatment (24.2%).

Conclusions

Children with KD presenting with a jaundice-predominant manifestation are at a higher risk of IVIG-refractory disease, coronary artery abnormalities, and more recurrent episodes. Physicians should be aware of the risk of shock in this population.

[Evidence-based guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of Kawasaki disease in children in China (2023)]

Kawasaki disease (KD) is an acute self-limiting vasculitis, and it is the most common cause of acquired heart disease in children under 5 years old. One of the improvement goals in pediatric quality control work for the year 2023, as announced by the National Health Commission, is to reduce the incidence of cardiac events and KD-related mortality in children with KD. In order to standardize the diagnosis, treatment, and long-term management practices of KD in China, and effectively prevent and reduce the incidence of coronary artery lesions and long-term adverse effects, the guideline working group followed the principles and methods outlined by the World Health Organization and referenced existing evidence and experiences to develop the "Evidence-based guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of Kawasaki disease in children in China (2023)". The guidelines address the clinical questions regarding the classification and definition of KD, diagnosis of different types of KD, treatment during the acute phase of KD, application of echocardiography in identifying complications of KD, and management of KD combined with macrophage activation syndrome. Based on the best evidence and expert consensus, 20 recommendations were formulated, aiming to provide guidance and decision-making basis for healthcare professionals in the diagnosis and treatment of KD in children.

Clinical Presentation and Outcomes of Kawasaki Disease in Children from Latin America: A Multicenter Observational Study from the REKAMLATINA Network

OBJECTIVES

To describe the clinical presentation, management, and outcomes of Kawasaki disease (KD) in Latin America and to evaluate early prognostic indicators of coronary artery aneurysm (CAA).

STUDY DESIGN

An observational KD registry-based study was conducted in 64 participating pediatric centers across 19 Latin American countries retrospectively between January 1, 2009, and December 31, 2013, and prospectively from June 1, 2014, to May 31, 2017. Demographic and initial clinical and laboratory data were collected. Logistic regression incorporating clinical factors and maximum coronary artery z-score at initial presentation (between 10 days before and 5 days after intravenous immunoglobulin [IVIG]) was used to develop a prognostic model for CAA during follow-up (>5 days after IVIG).

RESULTS

Of 1853 patients with KD, delayed admission (>10 days after fever onset) occurred in 16%, 25% had incomplete KD, and 11% were resistant to IVIG. Among 671 subjects with reported coronary artery z-score during follow-up (median: 79 days; IQR: 36, 186), 21% had CAA, including 4% with giant aneurysms. A simple prognostic model utilizing only a maximum coronary artery z-score ≥2.5 at initial presentation was optimal to predict CAA during follow-up (area under the curve: 0.84; 95% CI: 0.80, 0.88).

CONCLUSION

From our Latin American population, coronary artery z-score ≥2.5 at initial presentation was the most important prognostic factor preceding CAA during follow-up. These results highlight the importance of early echocardiography during the initial presentation of KD.

Live vaccines following intravenous immunoglobulin for Kawasaki disease: Are we vaccinating appropriately?

AIM

Australian and New Zealand guidelines recommend that live vaccines be postponed for 11 months after treatment of Kawasaki disease (KD) with intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG). We aimed to describe patterns of live-vaccine administration after KD treatment, focusing on the measles-mumps-rubella/measles-mumps-rubella-varicella (MMR/MMRV) vaccines, and to compare real-world practice with current recommendations.

METHODS

We combined data from inpatient Electronic Health Records and the Australian Immunisation Register for all children who received IVIG for the treatment of KD under the age of 5 years at two Australian tertiary children's hospitals over a 12-year period. Children who received IVIG <11 months before a scheduled MMR/MMRV were deemed 'at risk' of breaching the guidelines, and those whose subsequent vaccination occurred <11 months after the IVIG were deemed to have 'breached' the guidelines.

RESULTS

Of those at risk, three-quarters (76%) breached the guidelines for their first MMR/MMRV. Findings were similar (50%-80%) for the second MMR/MMRV dose.

CONCLUSIONS

The majority of Australian children treated for KD with IVIG may not be optimally protected by MMRV vaccination. Immunisation systems should address this avoidable risk.

Current knowledge of TNF-α monoclonal antibody infliximab in treating Kawasaki disease: a comprehensive review

Kawasaki disease (KD), an autoinflammatory disease primarily affecting young children, characterized by consisting of acute systemic vasculitis and coronary artery involvement in severe cases. Intravenous immunoglobulin gamma (IVIG) combined with aspirin therapy is the first-line regimen for the prevention of coronary aneurysms in the acute phase of KD. The etiology and pathogenesis of KD are unclear, but its incidence is increasing gradually, especially in the cases of IVIG-naïve KD and refractory KD. Conventional therapies for refractory KD have unsatisfactory results. At present, infliximab (IFX), a human-murine chimeric monoclonal antibody that specifically blocks tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), has made great progress in the treatment of KD. This review revealed that IFX infusion (5 mg/kg) could effectively modulate fever, reduce inflammation, improve arthritis, diminish the number of plasma exchange, decrease hospitalizations, and prevent the progression of coronary artery lesions. The adverse effects of IFX administration included skin rash, arthritis, respiratory disease, infusion reaction, hepatomegaly, and vaccination-associated complications. But the incidence of these adverse effects is low. The clear optimal application protocol of the application of IFX for either initial combination therapy or salvage therapy in KD is still under investigation. In addition, there are no effective biomarkers to predict IFX resistance. Further multicenter trials with large sample size and long-term follow-up are still needed to validate the clinical efficacy and safety of IFX for IVIG-resistant KD or refractory KD.

Overview of Guidelines for the Medical Treatment of Acute Kawasaki Disease in Japan (2020 Revised Version) and Positioning of Plasma Exchange Therapy in the Acute Phase

BACKGROUND

Kawasaki disease (KD) is a medium-sized vessel vasculitis of unknown origin that predominantly affects infants and young children. As KD causes cardiac complications such as coronary artery lesions, it is known as a disease that causes sudden death in children with acquired cardiac disease.

METHODS

The clinical trials of prednisolone, infliximab and cyclosporin A have led to the insurance coverage of these drugs in the treatment of KD, in addition to intravenous immunoglobulin therapy, which was already indicated for the treatment of KD. Despite not being a drug, plasma exchange therapy as a procedure was also approved for insurance coverage in Japan. Furthermore, new guidelines for KD treatment were published by the American Heart Association in 2017 and the Single Hub and Access Point for Paediatric Rheumatology in Europe in 2019. In light of these circumstances, the Japanese Society of Pediatric Cardiology and Cardiac Surgery guidelines were revised.

CONCLUSIONS

Here, we provide an overview of the revised guidelines and mention the position and actual practice of plasma exchange therapy as one of the ultimate treatment modalities.

Identifying Kawasaki Disease With a Low Coronary Artery Aneurysm Risk

INTRODUCTION

Kawasaki disease (KD) patients with a high risk of coronary artery aneurysm (CAA) development are well characterized and targeted for intensified primary intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) treatment. However, the characteristics of KD patients with a low CAA risk are less well-known.

METHODS

The present study was a secondary analysis of Prospective Observational study on STRAtified treatment with Immunoglobulin plus Steroid Efficacy for Kawasaki disease (Post RAISE), a multicenter, prospective cohort study of KD patients in Japan. The target of the analysis was patients with a Kobayashi score <5 who were predicted to respond to IVIG. The incidence of CAA during the acute phase, the primary outcome, was assessed based on all echocardiographic evaluations performed between week 1 (days 5-9) and month 1 (days 20-50) after the start of primary treatment. Multivariable logistic regression was used to identify the independent risk factors of CAA during the acute phase, based on which a decision tree was created to identify a subpopulation of patients with KD with a low CAA risk.

RESULTS

Multivariate analysis found that a baseline maximum Z score >2.5, age <12 months at fever onset, nonresponsiveness to IVIG, low neutrophils, high platelets and high C-reactive protein were independent predictors of CAA during the acute phase. The decision tree created by using these risk factors identified 679 KD patients who had a low incidence of CAA during the acute phase (4.1%) and no medium or large CAA.

CONCLUSIONS

The present study identified a KD subpopulation with a low CAA risk comprising around a quarter of the entire Post RAISE cohort.

Association of Genetic Polymorphisms in Kawasaki Disease with the Response to Intravenous Immunoglobulin Therapy

Kawasaki disease (KD) is an acute febrile and systemic vasculitis disease mainly affecting children < 5 years old. Although the first case of KD was reported in 1967 and despite extensive research on KD since then, the cause of the disease remains largely unknown. The most common complications of KD are coronary artery lesions (CAL), which significantly increase the risk of coronary heart disease. The standard treatment for KD is high-dose intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) plus aspirin within 10 days from symptoms' appearance, which has been shown to decrease the incidence of CAL to 5-7%. Despite the benefits of IVIG, about 25% of the patients treated with IVIG develop resistance or are unresponsive to the therapy, which represents an important risk factor for CAL development. The cause of IVIG unresponsiveness has not been fully elucidated. However, the role of gene polymorphisms in IVIG response has been suggested. Herein, we comprehensively review genetic polymorphisms in KD that have been associated with IVIG resistance/unresponsiveness and further discuss available models to predict IVIG unresponsiveness.Kindly check and confirm inserted city in affiliation [1] is correctly identified.confirm.

Regional Differences in Kawasaki Disease Incidence Reduction Before and After the Onset of the Coronavirus Disease 2019 Pandemic

OBJECTIVE

To assess regional differences in reduction of the incidence of Kawasaki disease during the mitigation period for the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic, with a hypothesis that more sparsely populated regions have fewer opportunities for human-to-human contact, resulting in a greater reduction in the incidence of Kawasaki disease.

STUDY DESIGN

A retrospective ecological study was conducted using data from patients hospitalized for Kawasaki disease as well as infectious diseases surveillance reports in Shiga Prefecture, Japan, during 2015-2020. We defined the periods before and after the onset of pandemic as January 2015-March 2020 and as April 2020-December 2020, respectively. We compared the reductions in the incidence of Kawasaki disease among 6 administrative regions in the prefecture according to the density of the populations.

RESULTS

A total of 1290 patients with Kawasaki disease were identified. The incidence of Kawasaki disease (per 100 000 person-years) was significantly reduced after the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic onset (period before pandemic onset, 105.6 [95% CI 99.8-111.8]; period after pandemic onset, 68.6 [95% CI 56.7-83.0]). During the period after pandemic onset, the incidence of Kawasaki disease was significantly reduced in May, compared with the corresponding period in previous years. The number of patients aged 2-4 years was significantly reduced after the pandemic onset. Notably, greater reductions in the incidence of Kawasaki disease were found in regions with lower population densities.

CONCLUSIONS

Assuming that there were fewer opportunities for human-to-human contact in more sparsely populated regions during the pandemic mitigation period, our findings support the hypothesis that human-to-human contact may be associated with development of Kawasaki disease.

High-Dose or Low-Dose Aspirin Application in the Initial Phase of Kawasaki Disease: A Meta-Analysis and Systematic Review

The initial dose of aspirin for Kawasaki disease (KD) is controversial to a great extent. In order to compare the efficacy of high-dose and low-dose aspirin in the treatment of KD, this study included articles containing information on the treatment of KD with aspirin before August 2021, which were collected from public databases. The results of different studies were summarized and weighted by an inverse variance model, and heterogeneity was assessed using the Q-test and I2. A meta-analysis of 12258 patients from nine retrospective studies was conducted. In general, no significant differences between high-dose and low-dose groups were found in the incidence of coronary artery abnormality (CAA) (RR = 1.154; 95% CI = 1.027–1.316) and the incidence of intravenous immunoglobulin (RR = 0.926; 95% CI = 0.594–1.441). But high-dose aspirin might be linked to the shortened duration of fever (RR = −0.134; 95% CI = −0.203–0.064) as well as hospitalized stay (RR = −1.263; 95% CI = −1.392–1.122). Conclusion. For the treatment of the acute phase of KD, low-dose aspirin plus intravenous immunoglobulin could be as effective as high-dose aspirin in preventing CAA. Nonetheless, high-dose aspirin might be related to reducing fever time and hospitalization time.

Diagnosis of coronary artery abnormalities in Kawasaki disease: recent guidelines and z score systems

Kawasaki disease, an acute systemic vasculitis affecting children, is the leading cause of acquired heart disease in developed countries. This vasculitis has a predilection for the coronary artery, and coronary artery abnormalities are the main criteria for its diagnosis. The diagnosis of coronary abnormalities has historically been based on dichotomous criteria, but recent guidelines have accepted the body surface area-adjusted z score system to define coronary abnormalities and classify coronary artery aneurysms. Z score systems have improved risk classifications of coronary aneurysms and improved correlations with clinical prognosis. However, the discrepancy of calculated z scores according to the formula has been noticed in the application of the z score system, which is possibly related to the diagnosis of coronary artery abnormalities. This variability was greater in larger coronary aneurysm dimensions. A careful choice of the z score formula and its consistent use is needed in clinical applications.

Serum alanine aminotransferase level and intravenous immunoglobulin resistance in patients with kawasaki disease

INTRODUCTION/OBJECTIVES

Serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) elevation is considered a risk factor for resistance to initial intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) treatment in patients with Kawasaki disease (KD). However, serum ALT levels change dramatically during acute KD illness. We tested the hypothesis that risk assessment for initial IVIG resistance based on serum ALT elevation may differ by examination day after KD onset.

METHODS

We analyzed 18,492 population-based patients who developed KD throughout Japan. First, we epidemiologically evaluated the serum ALT variation at 1‒10 days after disease onset. Second, we conducted multivariable logistic regression to determine the association between serum ALT level and initial IVIG resistance according to timing of initial hospital visit by stratifying the patients into an early group (1‒5 days after onset) and a late group (6‒10 days after onset).

RESULTS

Serum ALT rapidly increased after KD onset, peaked at day 4 of illness, and then declined regardless of IVIG responsiveness. The adjusted odds ratio (OR) increased with increasing serum ALT in the early group (adjusted OR [95% CI]: 1.44 [1.25-1.66], 1.94 [1.65-2.28], and 2.22 [1.99-2.48] for serum ALT 50-99, 100-199, and ≥ 200 IU/L, respectively; reference ALT level: 1-49 IU/L). No significant association was observed in the late group.

CONCLUSIONS

The findings indicate that risk assessment for initial IVIG resistance based on serum ALT level may only be reliable for patients with KD who visit hospitals during early illness, specifically 1-5 days after disease onset. Key Points Serum alanine aminotransferase level differed markedly according to examination days after Kawasaki disease onset. Serum alanine aminotransferase level declined toward normal range after day 5 of illness regardless of intravenous immunoglobulin responsiveness. Elevated serum alanine aminotransferase level was no longer a significant risk factor for initial intravenous immunoglobulin resistance when measured on delayed hospital visits. Risk assessment for initial intravenous immunoglobulin resistance based on serum alanine aminotransferase level may only be reliable for patients who visit hospitals during early illness, specifically 1-5 days after disease onset.

Analysis of Age, Sex, Lack of Response to Intravenous Immunoglobulin, and Development of Coronary Artery Abnormalities in Children With Kawasaki Disease in Japan

IMPORTANCE

Initial intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG)-refractory status and prolonged fever are established risk factors for the development of coronary artery abnormalities (CAAs) among patients with acute-phase Kawasaki disease (KD). However, whether different risk factors exist for initial unresponsiveness to IVIG and CAA development remains unclear.

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate whether different risk factors exist for initial unresponsiveness to IVIG and CAA development among patients with KD (stratified by age at disease onset).

DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS

This retrospective cohort study included a consecutive sample of 2414 patients from a database of patients with KD from October 1, 1999, to September 30, 2019. The data were based on annual surveys (response rate, 100%) using hospital medical records across Wakayama Prefecture, Japan. Data were analyzed from March 6 to March 26, 2022.

EXPOSURES

The patient's age and diagnosis of KD by board-certified pediatricians using the criteria established by the Japan KD Research Committee.

MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES

Initial unresponsiveness to IVIG, defined as treatment with optional or advanced therapies, and development of CAAs. Echocardiograms performed 1 month after KD onset using the Japanese Ministry of Health criteria evaluated the presence or absence of CAAs. Odds ratios (ORs) with 95% CIs of patient age at KD onset for unresponsiveness to IVIG and developing CAAs were calculated using multivariable logistic regression models.

RESULTS

A total of 2414 patients (1403 male patients [58.1%]; median age at onset of KD, 25 months [range, 1-212 months]) were included in the study: 550 younger than 12 months, 1342 aged 12 to 47 months, and 522 older than 47 months. A total of 535 patients (22.2%) received optional or advanced treatment and 68 patients (2.8%) developed CAAs 1 month after disease onset. The sex-adjusted OR among patients younger than 12 months for unresponsiveness to IVIG was 0.77 (95% CI, 0.59-0.99) and for development of CAAs was 1.94 (95% CI, 1.07-3.52); among those older than 47 months, the OR for unresponsiveness to IVIG was 1.32 (95% CI, 1.05-1.67) and for development of CAAs was 2.47 (95% CI, 1.39-4.39). After adjusting for IVIG administration, ORs among boys older than 47 months for unresponsiveness to IVIG was 1.14 (95% CI, 0.84-1.56) and for development of CAAs was 2.15 (95% CI, 1.08-4.30); among girls younger than 12 months, the OR for unresponsiveness to IVIG was 1.02 (95% CI, 0.65-1.60) and for development of CAAs was 3.79 (95% CI, 1.21-11.90).

CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE

The results of this study suggest that risks of unresponsiveness to IVIG and the development of CAAs differ between infants with KD and older patients with KD. Residual risk factors for KD-related CAAs other than initial unresponsiveness to IVIG should be addressed, particularly in infants.

Risk Factors for Coronary Artery Lesionsin Kawasaki Disease Independent of Antibiotic Use in Chinese Children

Objectives

To study the impact of antibiotics used in Kawasaki disease (KD) with coronary artery lesions (CAL) and identify independent risk factors.

Methodology

This study reviewed the records of 287 KD patients between the years 2016 and 2020. Patients were grouped by their outcome, the CAL group, and a no-coronary artery lesions (NCAL) group, and stratified by the use of antibiotics. We collected clinical and laboratory data before the intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) treatment.

Results

The two groups of KD patients with and without CAL were compared. The results showed that there are significant differences between groups which were erythrocyte count (p = 0.045) and hemoglobin (p = 0.005), red blood cell-specific volume (p = 0.001), immature granular cells percentage (p = 0.006), total protein (p = 0.045), albumin (p = 0.041), alkaline phosphatase (p = 0.023), and chlorine (p = 0.006). After multivariate logistic regression, neutrophil granulocyte percentage (odds ratio [OR] = 1.200, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.008-1.428, p = 0.040), lymphocyte percentage (p = 0.028, OR = 1.243, 95% CI: 1.024-1.508, p = 0.028) and total protein (OR = 4.414, 95% CI: 1.092-17.846, p = 0.037) were found to be independent risk factors for CAL. After analyzing the cases with a history of antibiotic use, multivariate analysis showed no indicators were considered independent risk factors for CAL.

Conclusion

Neutrophil granulocyte percentage, Lymphocyte percentage and total protein were independent risks for CAL in KD without antibiotics use history. The use of antibiotics affected physiological indicators of KD patients.

Cost-effectiveness analysis of infliximab for the treatment of Kawasaki disease refractory to the initial treatment: A retrospective cohort study

BACKGROUND

Infliximab (IFX) treatment is approved in Japan for health insurance coverage in patients with Kawasaki disease (KD). This study aimed to compare the cost-effectiveness of IFX and other therapeutic strategies for KD refractory to initial treatment, including intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG), steroids, immunosuppressants, and plasma exchange therapy.

METHODS

This multicenter, retrospective cohort study utilized data from the public medical insurance system of Japan. The target population included those who received treatment for KD between April 2012 and March 2019. Eligibility criteria were as follows: 1) initial onset of KD, 2) age < 15 years at onset, and 3) administration of 3rd line treatment if the 1st line treatment was IVIG alone or 2nd line treatment if the 1st line treatment was a combination of IVIG and steroids, in accordance with Japanese guidelines (2012). Those with KD-related cardiovascular complications before admission and those with congenital cardiac disease were excluded. The primary outcome was cost-effectiveness, which was calculated based on the number of admission events per annum divided by medical expenses per annum (times/10,000 US dollars). The Wilcoxon test was applied to analyze the difference in cost-effectiveness between patients who had received IFX and those who had not.

RESULTS

Among 1267 patients with KD, 25 received IFX treatment, while 206 received another treatment after the disease was designated refractory to initial treatment. The frequency of steroid use during initial IVIG treatment (a predictor of severity) was higher in the non-IFX group than in the IFX group (70.4% vs. 32.0%, p < 0.001) but became comparable after propensity-score matching. Our analysis indicated that IFX was more cost-effective than other treatments [1.04 (0.86, 1.34) vs. 1.38 (1.03, 1.79) (times/10,000 US dollars), p = 0.006].

CONCLUSIONS

IFX treatment may be more cost-effective than non-IFX treatment for patients with KD that is refractory to initial treatment.

Analysis of multiple organ involvement in Kawasaki disease

This study aimed to explore the incidence and clinical characteristics of multiple complications in children with Kawasaki disease (KD). All patients were diagnosed in our hospital between January 2016 and December 2020. A total of 640 cases were included, 43 patients had coronary artery aneurysm, 51 patients had coronary artery dilation, and 546 patients had no coronary artery damage. The patients were divided into three subgroups based on age: < 1 year old, 1-5 years old, and > 5 years old. The multiple complications of all the KD children and the correlation between extracardiac complications and cardiovascular complications were analyzed. Among the 640 KD children, most were 1-5 years old (415/640, 64.8%). Children < 1 year old (31.6%) and > 5 years old (28.3%) were more likely to have cardiovascular complications. The incidence of respiratory complications was highest in 1-5 year olds (57.1%). Involvement of the digestive and the hematological systems gradually decreased with age, whereas involvement of the nervous system, the urinary system, and the joints gradually increased with age. The incidence of cardiovascular injury with extracardiac complications (22.3%) was higher than that without extracardiac complications (16.3%), although the difference was not statistically significant (p > 0.05).Conclusions: KD can be complicated by multiple-organ injury but there was no significant relationship between the occurrence of extracardiac complications and cardiovascular complications. What is Known: • Cardiovascular disease is generally believed to be the most common and serious complication of Kawasaki disease (KD). • Over recent years, we have found that extracardiovascular complications of KD are more common than generally supposed and, because they have some effect on prognosis, we believe that more attention should be paid to these complications. What is New: • There was no significant relationship between the occurrence of extracardiac complications and cardiovascular complications.

Usefulness of brain natriuretic peptide to distinguish Kawasaki disease from cervical lymphadenitis

BACKGROUND

Cervical lymphadenitis (CL) cannot be easily distinguished from Kawasaki disease (KD). We therefore explored whether brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) levels are useful in this context.

METHODS

We retrospectively analyzed 14 children with CL and 177 children with KD. Patients with KD were divided into three groups according to their clinical symptoms at hospitalization - 97 patients had typical KD, 35 had node-first KD (NFKD), and 45 had KD without lymphadenopathy. We reviewed data on clinical and laboratory parameters, including serum BNP levels, at hospitalization together with factors that might distinguish KD from CL.

RESULTS

Patients with CL were older than those with KD. Serum BNP levels were higher in all the KD groups than in the CL group. Multivariate logistic regression analyses indicated that higher BNP levels were associated with NFKD (odds ratio: 1.12, 95% confidence interval: 1.01-1.25). The receiver operating characteristic curve yielded a BNP cutoff of 18.3 pg/mL, with a sensitivity of 0.680, a specificity of 0.857, and an area under the curve of 0.806 (95% confidence interval: 0.665-0.947).

CONCLUSIONS

Serum BNP levels can be used to distinguish KD from CL, especially in patients with NFKD.

Efficacy and Safety of NSAIDs in Infants: A Comprehensive Review of the Literature of the Past 20 Years

Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are commonly used in infants, children, and adolescents worldwide; however, despite sufficient evidence of the beneficial effects of NSAIDs in children and adolescents, there is a lack of comprehensive data in infants. The present review summarizes the current knowledge on the safety and efficacy of various NSAIDs used in infants for which data are available, and includes ibuprofen, dexibuprofen, ketoprofen, flurbiprofen, naproxen, diclofenac, ketorolac, indomethacin, niflumic acid, meloxicam, celecoxib, parecoxib, rofecoxib, acetylsalicylic acid, and nimesulide. The efficacy of NSAIDs has been documented for a variety of conditions, such as fever and pain. NSAIDs are also the main pillars of anti-inflammatory treatment, such as in pediatric inflammatory rheumatic diseases. Limited data are available on the safety of most NSAIDs in infants. Adverse drug reactions may be renal, gastrointestinal, hematological, or immunologic. Since NSAIDs are among the most frequently used drugs in the pediatric population, safety and efficacy studies can be performed as part of normal clinical routine, even in young infants. Available data sources, such as (electronic) medical records, should be used for safety and efficacy analyses. On a larger scale, existing data sources, e.g. adverse drug reaction programs/networks, spontaneous national reporting systems, and electronic medical records should be assessed with child-specific methods in order to detect safety signals pertinent to certain pediatric age groups or disease entities. To improve the safety of NSAIDs in infants, treatment needs to be initiated with the lowest age-appropriate or weight-based dose. Duration of treatment and amount of drug used should be regularly evaluated and maximum dose limits and other recommendations by the manufacturer or expert committees should be followed. Treatment for non-chronic conditions such as fever and acute (postoperative) pain should be kept as short as possible. Patients with chronic conditions should be regularly monitored for possible adverse effects of NSAIDs.

Serum free carnitine levels in children with Kawasaki disease

BACKGROUND

Carnitine plays an essential role in the transfer of long-chain fatty acids to the mitochondria for β-oxidation. No study has characterized carnitine in children with Kawasaki disease (KD). The objective of this study was to elucidate the characteristics of serum free carnitine (FC) in hospitalized pediatric patients with KD.

METHODS

We retrospectively analyzed 45 patients with KD in whom serum FC levels were measured. We investigated the clinical and laboratory parameters before intravenous immunoglobulin was administered, including serum FC levels, according to the response to intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG). We also analyzed the relationship among serum FC, laboratory data, and clinical variables.

RESULTS

IVIG was effective in 33 children (responders) and was ineffective in 12 children (non-responders). Serum FC levels were higher in non-responders than in responders: 35.3 μmol/L (range, 26.8-118.4 μmol/L) vs 31.4 μmol/L (range, 20.9-81.2 μmol/L), P <0.05. FC levels before IVIG in 80% of responders were below the normal range. The levels of aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), total bilirubin, and FC were higher in non-responders than in responders. FC levels were correlated with AST (R² = 0.364, P = 0.0015) and ALT (R² = 0.423, P < 0.001) levels.

CONCLUSIONS

Free carnitine levels were elevated in some patients with KD, especially in those who were refractory to IVIG. Additionally, FC levels in children with KD correlated with ASL and ALT levels.

A phase I/IIa trial of atorvastatin in Japanese patients with acute Kawasaki disease with coronary artery aneurysm: Study protocol of a multicenter, single-arm, open-label trial

Background

Kawasaki disease (KD) is a systemic vasculitis complicated with coronary artery abnormalities (CAAs). Intravenous immunoglobulin reduces the occurrence of CAAs, but significant number of KD patients with CAAs still exists. Thus, new approaches to prevent and attenuate CAAs are warranted. Atorvastatin has been shown to promote endothelial cell homeostasis and suppress vascular inflammation and has received enthusiasm as a potentially new candidate treatment for KD. In the United States, a phase I/IIa dose-escalation study of atorvastatin in KD patients with CAAs demonstrated the safety and pharmacokinetic data of atorvastatin. However, due to the uncertainty in the application of these results to other populations, we aim to examine the tolerability and generate pharmacokinetics data in Japanese KD patients.

Methods

This is a multicenter, single-arm, open-label, phase I/IIa study of atorvastatin in acute KD patients with CAAs in Japan. A minimum of 9 and a maximum of 18 KD patients (2 years–17 years old) will be recruited for a 3 + 3 dose-escalation study of a 6-week course of atorvastatin (0.125–0.5 mg/kg/day). The primary outcome will be safety of atorvastatin. The secondary outcomes will be pharmacokinetics of atorvastatin, activity of atorvastatin and echocardiographic assessment of CAAs. The activity of atorvastatin will include assessment of C-reactive protein or high sensitivity C-reactive protein and white blood cell levels.

Discussion

This study will provide evidence of the safety, tolerability, and pharmacokinetics of atorvastatin in Japanese KD patients and may lead new standard therapy for acute-phase KD associated with CAA complications.

Trial registration

Japan Registry of Clinical Trials (JRCTs031180057). Registered December 19, 2018, https://jrct.niph.go.jp/en-latest-detail/jRCTs031180057.

Spontaneous defervescence and its prediction in the acute phase of Kawasaki disease

BACKGROUND

In Kawasaki disease (KD), fever occasionally resolves spontaneously before 10 days from the onset, right after diagnosing. However, there is not enough evidence of intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) treatment in this case. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between spontaneous defervescence and coronary artery aneurysm and to develop a scoring model for its prediction in acute KD.

METHODS

All patients admitted for acute KD in Asan Medical Center were considered for inclusion. Acute management involved the administration of 2 g/kg of IVIG and 5 mg/kg/day of aspirin. The patient whose temperature was <37.5°C for more than 48 h from the diagnosis was discharged under the judgment of spontaneous defervescence, without IVIG administration.

RESULTS

The incidence of coronary artery aneurysm was 5.7% in 94 defervesced patients and 4.6% in the 1,277 patients treated with IVIG in the subacute phase (P = 0.593), and 2.5 and 2.2% in respective patient groups in the convalescent phase (P = 0.924). A scoring model which predicted spontaneous defervescence under the combination of C-reactive protein ≤10mg/dL and ≥2 conditions of no rash, neutrophil ≤65%, and/or alanine aminotransferase ≤80 IU/L, was developed and showed 80.7% sensitivity, 68.8% specificity, 15.8% positive predictive value, and a 97.8% negative predictive value.

CONCLUSION

The incidence of coronary artery aneurysm in patients with the defervesced KD was not different from the IVIG treated patients. In the cases suitable for the predictive model, patients can wait for the spontaneous defervescence under intensive observation by medical professionals.

Anti-inflammatory Treatment of Kawasaki Disease: Comparison of Current Guidelines and Perspectives

Kawasaki disease (KD), an acute, generalized vasculitis, is associated with an increased risk of coronary heart disease and is the most common cause of acquired heart disease in childhood. The incidence of KD is increasing worldwide. There are numerous international treatment guidelines. Our study aims to perform the first one so far comparison of them. While the gold standard therapy remains still the same (intravenous immunoglobulins and aspirin), there is currently a lack of evidence for choosing optimal treatment for high-risk patients and refractory KD. In this review, we also discuss the treatment of complications of KD and Kawasaki-like phenotypes, present an anti-inflammatory treatment in the light of new scientific data, and present novel potential therapeutic targets for KD.

Live attenuated vaccine efficacy six months after intravenous immunoglobulin therapy for Kawasaki disease

BACKGROUND

Due to the presence of maternal passive antibodies, the measles vaccine is ineffective if administered before age 12-15 months. The optimal timing for administering a live attenuated vaccine (LAV) after intravenous immunoglobulin therapy (IVIG) for Kawasaki disease (KD) has not been fully investigated. The recommended interval between vaccination and IVIG therapy for KD differs by country. The present study aimed to evaluate efficacy of LAV six months after IVIG therapy for KD in Japan.

METHODS

The present, single-arm, prospective, interventional study included patients aged 6 months or older with no medical history of measles, rubella, varicella or mumps or vaccinations against these diseases. The subjects received these vaccinations for the first time at six months after IVIG therapy. Virus-specific IgG levels for each virus measured by EIA was examined at nine months after IVIG therapy. If the results were negative, the subjects received a booster vaccination at 12 months after IVIG therapy. The primary outcome was the prevalence of positivity for antibodies after the initial and booster vaccinations.

RESULTS

The present study enrolled 32 subjects, 31% of whom were female, with an average age of 10.8 (standard deviation 2.8) months at IVIG therapy. At six months after IVIG therapy, 9% and 6% of the subjects were seropositive for measles and varicella titers, respectively, but were seronegative for the mumps and rubella titers. The seroconversion rate for measles, mumps, rubella, and varicella after the initial vaccination was 88%, 6%, 78%, and 16%, respectively. The seroconversion rate after a booster vaccination was 100% for measles and rubella, 97% for mumps, and 77% for varicella.

CONCLUSIONS

The seroconversion rate was low for LAV at six months after a single dose of IVIG for KD, but seroconversion was achievable with a booster vaccination at 12 months.

CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION

UMIN-CTR, UMIN000007174, https://upload.umin.ac.jp/cgi-open-bin/ctr/ctr_view.cgi?recptno=R000008452.

Correlation of Coronary Artery Abnormalities with Fever Pattern in Patients with Kawasaki Disease

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the incidence of coronary artery abnormalities (CAAs) by fever pattern after intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) therapy in patients with Kawasaki disease.

STUDY DESIGN

This retrospective cohort study included 172 patients with Kawasaki disease aged ≤12 years who underwent IVIG therapy and had no CAAs before treatment. Resistance to initial IVIG was defined as persistent fever ≥37.5 °C for ≥24 hours after therapy or the recurrence of Kawasaki disease after initial defervescence. The patients were divided into 3 groups: IVIG responders, nonresponders with persistent fever, and nonresponders with recurrent fever. CAAs were evaluated 2 or 4 weeks and 12 months after onset and were defined by a coronary artery z-score ≥2.5.

RESULTS

The incidence of CAAs within 12 months after onset was significantly higher in nonresponders with persistent fever (27%) compared with the other 2 groups. On multivariate logistic regression analysis, being a nonresponder with persistent fever was an independent risk factor for having CAAs within 12 months after the onset of Kawasaki disease (OR, 6.48; P = .007).

CONCLUSIONS

In patients with Kawasaki disease resistant to IVIG therapy, persistent fever, but not recurrent fever, was found to be a risk factor for the incidence of CAAs. Aggressive additional therapy may be beneficial to prevent CAA formation in patients with Kawasaki disease with persistent fever.

Monoclonal antibody and anti-cytokine biologics for Kawasaki disease: A systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Kawasaki disease (KD) is a form of self-limiting vasculitis that causes coronary artery abnormalities in children. Although clinical trials of monoclonal antibodies and anti-cytokine biologics that block cytokine cascades have been conducted, the studies have revealed contradictory results. To examine the effectiveness of treatment with monoclonal antibodies and anti-cytokine biologics for KD patients, we conducted this systematic review and meta-analysis.

METHODS

Relevant randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and observational studies (e.g., cohort studies, case-control studies, case-series, and case-reports) were included to summarize available evidence, both qualitatively and quantitatively. The Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, MEDLINE, EMBASE, and ICUSHI were used for systematic research. Meta-analysis of the included studies was conducted using fixed-effect or random-effects models, depending on the degree of between-study heterogeneity. We assessed coronary artery and treatment outcomes of the interventions. The certainty of evidence and risk of bias were assessed using the GRADE and Cochrane risk of bias tool. The protocol of this review is registered with PROSPERO (CRD42016033079).

RESULTS

Results: Of all searched studies, 183 studies were qualitatively analyzed. We finally included four randomized controlled trials with 456 patients in quantitative syntheses. Monoclonal antibodies and anti-cytokine biologics did not reduce the frequency of CAA (risk ratio [RR], 0.93; 95% confidence interval [95%CI], 0.65 to 1.32, low certainty of evidence), compared with the conventional treatment with IVIG. However, the frequency of treatment resistance (RR, 0.60; 95%CI, 0.38 to 0.95, moderate certainty of evidence) was reduced by the antibodies. We found no statistical differences in either "any adverse event" (RR, 0.92; 95%CI, 0.80 to 1.06, low certainty of evidence) or "adverse events attributable to the administration of the medication" (RR, 1.10; 95%CI, 0.72 to 1.69, low certainty of evidence) between the two groups.

CONCLUSION

Conclusions: Although monoclonal antibodies and anti-cytokine biologics were not effective in reducing the frequency of CAA in KD patients, the frequency of treatment resistance might be reduced by those agents compared with conventional IVIG therapy alone.

Serum sodium level associated with coronary artery lesions in patients with Kawasaki disease

INTRODUCTION/OBJECTIVES

Hyponatremia is a potential risk factor for the development of coronary artery lesions (CALs) identified after acute Kawasaki disease (KD). However, the serum sodium distribution corresponding to the reference intervals differs between infants (< 1 year of age) and older children. We hypothesized the association of serum sodium level with CAL complications differs between infants and older patients with KD.

METHODS

We analyzed 21,610 population-based patients who developed KD throughout Japan during 2013-2014. We performed multivariable logistic regression analyses to evaluate the association between serum sodium and CAL complications. Additionally, we stratified the serum sodium distribution associated with CAL complications by infants and older patients.

RESULTS

CALs were identified in 158 (3.6%) infants and 302 (1.8%) older patients. Infants were more likely to develop CALs when within the normal sodium range compared with older patients (75% vs. 29%), whereas most older patients developed CALs with a sodium level lower than the reference interval. Serum sodium ≤ 130 mEq/L indicated significantly higher risk for development of CALs in both groups (adjusted odds ratio [95% confidence intervals] = 3.21 [1.65-6.25] in infants and 1.74 [1.18-2.57] in older patients).

CONCLUSIONS

Serum sodium distribution associated with CAL complications differed greatly between infants and older patients. Older patients developed CALs with sodium levels lower than the reference interval; however, among infants, hyponatremia was not necessarily a risk factor for developing coronary artery lesion. When considering risk assessments for CALs using serum sodium levels, infants with KD should be distinguished from older patients. Key Points • Hyponatremia is a potential risk factor for the development of coronary artery lesions (CALs) among patients with Kawasaki disease. • However, the serum sodium distribution corresponding to the reference intervals differs between infants (< 1 year of age) and older children. • Most infants developed CALs within the normal sodium range, whereas older patients developed at a range lower than the reference interval. • These findings highlight that when considering risk assessments for CALs using serum sodium levels, infants should be distinguished from older patients.

Kawasaki Disease: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Benefits and Harms of Common Treatments

Objective

Kawasaki disease (KD) is a self‐limited vasculitis affecting medium‐sized vessels with a predilection for the coronary arteries. Although treatment reduces the likelihood of developing of coronary artery aneurysms, 5% of patients still develop aneurysms despite treatment, making KD the leading cause of acquired heart disease in children in the United States. Consequently, there is a great deal of interest in optimizing treatment regimens, particularly for higher‐risk patients, to decrease morbidity. The aim of this systematic review is to support the development of the American College of Rheumatology/Vasculitis Foundation for the diagnosis and management of KD, focusing on the more complex scenarios in which rheumatologists may become involved, such as high‐risk and refractory disease.

Methods

Eighty‐nine articles were considered for full review in this systematic literature review to address 16 Population, Intervention, Comparison, and Outcome questions related to KD. Data were abstracted in hierarchical fashion. Randomized control trials (RCTs) were considered first; if none were identified or if they contained insufficient information, comparative observational studies were then viewed, followed by single‐arm observational studies/single arms from comparative studies. Only observational studies with more than 10 subjects with vasculitis were included.

Results

Eight RCTs and 28 observational studies that addressed the questions were identified. Two questions were addressed by RCTs, seven questions had at least some comparative observational studies, three questions were only addressed by single‐arm data, and four questions had no relevant studies.

Conclusion

This systematic review evaluates the benefits and harms of treatments for KD beyond first‐line therapy.

Efficacy evaluation and mechanical study of short- and long-term antithrombotic therapy for Kawasaki disease

BACKGROUND

Antithrombotic therapy was commonly applied in treating Kawasaki disease (KD) children; however, the effects and mechanisms of different plans were not fully elucidated. In this study, we aimed to evaluate different antithrombotic drugs.

METHODS

Eighty-two children diagnosed with KD in Hebei Children's Hospital from January 2017 to January 2020 were recruited. For cohort study, KD children were divided into a series of groups according to whether they were complicated with coronary artery lesions (CAL), drug therapy plan, and the presence of liver damage. The thromboelastogram (TEG) indexes [clotting time (R), clot formation time (K), clot formation angle (α), maximum amplitude of the clot (MA), arachidonic acid (AA), and adenosine diphosphate (ADP)] were employed to evaluate the relationship between disease state and drug treatment efficacy. Meanwhile, children were divided into different therapy groups according to their degree of CAL, the treatment efficiency was evaluated by TEG indexes, and the bleeding ratio was recorded. In addition, the warfarin metabolic gene was detected to explain the changes of coagulation parameters in children treated with warfarin.

RESULTS

The R value and coagulation index (CoI) were significantly lower (P<0.05) and MA value was significantly higher (P<0.05) in CAL group than those in non-coronary artery lesion (NCAL) group. There were significant individual differences in platelet inhibition between aspirin and dipyridamole groups. The AA% in aspirin group was 64% [95% confidence interval (CI): 49% to 74.3%] and the ADP% was 28.5% (95% CI: 26.2% to 37.2%) in dipyridamole group, and were significantly between groups. Warfarin and aspirin had a synergistic effect in anticoagulation. Warfarin metabolic gene detection was shown to be helpful for adjusting warfarin treatment dose, and shortening the initial attainment time of standard international normalized ratio (INR) index. The R value was significantly higher (P<0.05) in the liver injury group than that in the control group.

CONCLUSIONS

KD Children complicated with CAL presented a hypercoagulable state, and the CAL was predictable with the R value. Warfarin metabolic gene detection and TEG can effectively evaluate and guide short- and long-term antithrombotic therapy in KD children.

Low-dose or no aspirin administration in acute-phase Kawasaki disease: a meta-analysis and systematic review

OBJECTIVE

To compare the efficacy of low-dose or no aspirin with conventional high-dose aspirin for the initial treatment in the acute-phase of Kawasaki disease (KD).

DESIGN

A meta-analysis and systematic review of randomised control trials and cohort studies.

METHODS

All available articles that compared different dosage of aspirin in the acute-phase of KD published until 20 September 2019 were included from the databases of PubMed, Embase and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials Central without language restrictions. Extracted data from eligible studies were reviewed by two authors independently and analysed by using RStudio software.

RESULTS

Nine cohorts with a total of 12 182 children were enrolled. We found that low-dose (3-5 mg/kg/day) or no aspirin in the acute-phase KD was associated with reducing the risk of coronary artery lesions (CALs, OR=0.81, 95% CI 0.69 to 0.95). No differences were observed in intravenous immunoglobulin resistance, length of hospital stay and fever days after admission (OR=1.35, 95% CI 0.91 to 1.98; standard mean difference (SMD)=0.17, 95% CI -1.07 to 1.4; SMD=0.3, 95% CI -1.51 to 2.11) in the low-dose/no aspirin subgroup compared with the high-dose (≥30 mg/kg/day) aspirin subgroup. We did not identify any potential factors affecting the homogeneity of CAL risk as well as clinical important effects in all included studies.

CONCLUSIONS

Prescribing low-dose or no aspirin in the acute-phase of KD might be associated with a decreased incidence of CAL. However, additional well-designed prospective trials are required to support the theory.

Clinical Characteristics of Patients With Kawasaki Disease Whose Siblings Had the Same Disease

BACKGROUND

Some patients with Kawasaki disease (KD) have siblings who developed the same disease. Using a large-scale epidemiologic dataset, the present study aimed to determine the clinical characteristics of this population.

METHODS

We analyzed 89,725 patients diagnosed with KD during 2011-2018 who were registered in the nationwide Japanese KD survey database. Multivariable logistic regression analyses were performed to determine factors associated with sibling history of KD.

RESULTS

Of the 89,725 patients, 1777 (2%) had sibling history of KD. Annual prevalence ranged from 1.5% to 2.3% during the study period and showed a tendency toward an increasing trend. Patients with recurrent KD and parental history of KD were significantly associated with sibling history of KD (adjusted odds ratio [95% confidence interval] = 2.15 [1.82-2.54] and 2.64 [2.02-3.47], respectively). Although patients with a sibling history of KD were significantly associated with initial intravenous immunoglobulin treatment resistance (1.14 [1.02-1.28]), no significant association was found between sibling history and coronary artery abnormality development. Among patients with a sibling history of KD, male patients were less likely to have recurrent KD than female patients (0.68 [0.49-0.96]).

CONCLUSIONS

The significant association between sibling history and parental history may indicate genetic susceptibility to KD onset. Among those with a sibling history, recurrent KD was more likely to occur in female patients. Further studies focusing on this population may contribute toward identification of the cause of KD onset.

Variation in the management of Kawasaki disease in Australia and New Zealand: A survey of paediatricians

AIM

This study aimed to describe the current management practices for Kawasaki disease (KD) in Australia and New Zealand.

METHODS

We performed a secondary analysis on the Australian and New Zealand responses to a large international survey of clinicians' perspectives on KD diagnosis and management.

RESULTS

There was general consensus among Australian and New Zealand clinicians regarding the indications for intravenous immunoglobulin and aspirin in the management of acute KD. There was less consensus on the dose of these agents, the definition and management of treatment-resistant KD and the approach to long-term thromboprophylaxis.

CONCLUSION

Most clinicians use intravenous immunoglobulin for primary treatment of KD. There is variation regarding other aspects of KD diagnosis and important management issues. Future studies should confirm whether this reported variation occurs in real-world practice and assess potential impacts on patient outcome.

Kawasaki Disease- Management Strategies Given Symptoms Overlap to COVID-19: A Review

Kawasaki disease is an acute, self-limiting vasculitis in children. Early treatment is necessary to prevent cardiovascular complications. The acute phase of Kawasaki disease may present with hemodynamic instability. An association between viral respiratory infections and Kawasaki disease has been reported. Studies have shown that Kawasaki and Kawasaki-like disease may be associated with and have symptoms overlapping COVID-19. Children with COVID-19 may present as Kawasaki-like disease with pediatric inflammatory multisystem syndrome, or macrophage activation syndrome. Clinicians need to be aware of the early diagnosis and management of Kawasaki disease to prevent the development of coronary artery aneurysms. The symptoms overlap of multisystem inflammatory disease seen in COVID-19 adds to the difficulties in timely diagnosis and treatment. Children with Kawasaki disease require regular follow-up plans for coronary artery aneurysms. This adds to the difficulties during the changed environment of COVID-19 for control and prevention. Missed diagnosis and early treatment of Kawasaki disease with immunoglobulin and aspirin results in the development of coronary artery aneurysm in up to 25% of cases, with grave consequences. Here, we briefly review the management of typical and atypical Kawasaki disease which has symptoms overlapping with the multisystem inflammatory disease as seen in COVID-19.

Evaluation of high-dose aspirin elimination in the treatment of Kawasaki disease in the incidence of coronary artery aneurysm

Background:

Standard first-step therapy for Kawasaki disease consists of Intravenous immunoglobulin and high dose Aspirin (80-100 mg/kg/day). The standard dose of Intravenous immunoglobulin (2gr/kg) is strongly effective in reducing the risk of coronary arteries abnormalities. So, the proper dose and efficacy of Aspirin to decrease the risk of coronary arteries abnormalities is a controversial issue. In this study, it is tried to assess the result of eliminating high-dose Aspirin in the treatment of the acute phase of Kawasaki and observe the incidence rate of coronary arteries abnormalities when only Intravenous immunoglobulin was administered.

Methods:

This study is a prospective randomized, open-label, blinded end-points clinical trial performed in Afzalipour hospital in Kerman University of Medical Sciences from September 2017 to September 2018 in 62 patients with typical and atypical Kawasaki disease. The study group received Intravenous immunoglobulin (2 g/kg) and the control group get the same dose of Intravenous immunoglobulin plus Aspirin with the dose of 80-100 mg/Kg/day until they were afebrile for 48 hours. Afterward, both groups received a daily single dose (3-5 mg/kg) of Aspirin for six weeks. Echocardiography was done after two weeks, six weeks, and six months. Internal diameter of the left and right main coronary arteries was measured and then the corresponding Z-score was calculated.

Results:

In the study group, coronary arteries abnormalities decreased from 38.7% in the 2nd week to 16.1% in the 6th month. In the control group, it declined from 54.8% to 22.6%. There was no statistically significant difference between the groups in term of frequency of abnormal coronary arteries at the study period (P=0.151).

Conclusions:

We concluded that high dose Aspirin does not have a significant role in preventing coronary arteries abnormalities in Kawasaki disease and giving standard 2 gr/kg/day Intravenous immunoglobulin without high-dose Aspirin in acute-phases therapy does not increase the risk of coronary arteries abnormality.

Epidemiology and Risk Factors for Giant Coronary Artery Aneurysms Identified After Acute Kawasaki Disease

A giant coronary artery (CA) aneurysm is a potentially fatal cardiac complication resulting from Kawasaki disease (KD). We aimed to identify epidemiologic characteristics and potential risk factors associated with giant CA aneurysms identified after acute KD. We analyzed 90,252 patients diagnosed with KD from 2011 to 2018, using data obtained in nationwide KD surveys conducted in Japan. Multivariable logistic regression analyses were performed to evaluate potential risk factors associated with subsequent giant CA aneurysm complications (defined as lumen size ≥ 8 mm), adjusting for all potential factors. Giant CA aneurysms were identified in 144 patients (0.16%) after acute KD. The annual prevalence ranged from 0.07 to 0.20% during the study period. In the multivariate analyses, male sex (adjusted odds ratio 2.09 [95% confidence interval 1.41-3.11], recurrent KD (1.90 [1.09-3.33]), IVIG administration at 1-4 days of illness (1.49 [1.04-2.15]) and ≥ 8 days after KD onset (2.52 [1.38-4.60]; reference, 5-7 days), detection of CA dilatations and aneurysms at initial echocardiography (4.17 [1.85-5.41] and 46.5 [28.8-74.8], respectively), and resistance to IVIG treatment (6.09 [4.23-8.75]) were significantly associated with giant CA aneurysm complications identified after acute KD. The annual prevalence of giant CA aneurysms identified after acute KD did not increase during the study period. Patients with larger CA abnormalities detected at initial echocardiography were independently associated with progression to giant CA aneurysm complications after acute KD regardless of the number of days from onset at treatment initiation.

Targeted Use of Prednisolone with Intravenous Immunoglobulin for Kawasaki Disease

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES

Intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) therapy for acute-stage Kawasaki disease (KD) is the first-line treatment for preventing the development of coronary artery aneurysms (CAA). Corticosteroids (prednisolone) and infliximab are often used in patients at a high risk of CAA or those with CAA at diagnosis; however, there are only a few reports of non-responders to corticosteroids as an adjuvant therapy or rescue alternative to IVIG. In this study, we compared the therapeutic effects of primary and secondary prednisolone with IVIG for KD.

METHODS

We established the following three protocols: A was a secondary rescue prednisolone protocol; B was no prednisolone and second-line infliximab protocol, and C was the primary prednisolone protocol. The indication for prednisolone administration was based on the following: primary prednisolone administration, Kobayashi score; and secondary administration, Shizuoka score.

RESULTS

Four hundred and sixty-nine patients were enrolled in the three protocols. A comparison between primary and secondary prednisolone and IVIG, as the first-line therapy revealed that the number of first non-responders in C group was 7 (8.3%), which was significantly lower than the 50 (20.9%) in A group. There was a significant difference in the first and second non-responders among the three groups, and the number of non-responders in A group was 6 (2.5%), which was significantly lower than the 13 (9.9%) in B group (p < 0.001, by Bonferroni test). The multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that IVIG non-responders among the protocol groups had an adjusted odds ratio of 6.47. Fifteen IVIG non-responders were administered infliximab as a second-line therapy, and of them, 9 (60%) showed therapy resistance. CAA occurred in 21 patients (4.6%). There was no significant difference among each protocol group.

CONCLUSIONS

The number of IVIG non-responders in the group with prednisolone administration was lower than that in the group without prednisolone administration. Secondary rescue infliximab therapy for IVIG non-responders resulted in a lower defervescence effect than the secondary rescue IVIG with prednisolone administration. Further prospective randomized studies are needed to identify factors useful for preventing IVIG non-responders and determine the optimal rescue therapy for preventing CAA.

Delayed Development of Coronary Artery Aneurysm in Patients with Kawasaki Disease Who Were Clinically Responsive to Immunoglobulin

OBJECTIVE

To clarify the frequency and characteristics of discrepant outcomes of intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) between fever and coronary artery aneurysms (CAAs) in patients with Kawasaki disease.

STUDY DESIGN

This study included 325 patients who responded to oral aspirin and IVIG alone. The main outcome was CAA 4 weeks after disease onset. CAA was defined as ≥2.5 of maximum z score (Zmax) representing the highest value of 4 coronary artery branches. Immunoglobulin dosage and sequential changes in Zmax were reviewed to investigate the effects on fever and timing of CAA development. Logistic regression analyses with receiver operating characteristic curves using clinical and laboratory variables including the initial Zmax were performed to identify predictors of CAA at 4 weeks.

RESULTS

CAAs were either persistent or appeared de novo 4 weeks after diagnosis in 13 of 325 patients who responded to a single or repeated IVIG. Four single-dose IVIG-responders developed CAA although they had pretreatment Zmax of <2.0. The 2 single-dose IVIG responders with the greatest pretreatment Zmax (>4.5) developed persistent CAA. Receiver operating characteristic analysis demonstrated Zmax of 2.57 as the cut-off for predicting CAA. Multivariable analyses identified >2.5 Zmax (OR 9.08, 95% CI 1.26-65.3, P = .028, 50% sensitivity, 91% specificity) as the sole risk factor for CAA at 4 weeks in single-dose IVIG responders.

CONCLUSIONS

Delayed development and persistence of CAA in single-dose IVIG responders indicate that some factors other than those responsible for systemic inflammation may contribute to vasculitis in CAA. Baseline Zmax 2.5 aids in predicting CAAs.

Prediction of intravenous immunoglobulin resistance in Kawasaki disease in children

BACKGROUND

We aimed to explore predictive measures for intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) resistance in children with Kawasaki disease (KD).

METHODS

Patients diagnosed with KD were enrolled in this study. Univariate analysis and multiple logistic regression were utilized to analyze the clinical features and laboratory results prior to IVIG-treatment of the two groups. Independent predictors of IVIG resistance were analyzed, and a predictive model for KD children with IVIG resistance was constructed.

RESULTS

A total of 277 children with KD, 180 boys and 97 girls, aged 2-128 (median 23) months, were enrolled in the study. Compared with the IVIG-responsive group, the IVIG-resistant group had higher levels of the peripheral neutrophil count, mean platelet volume, mean platelet volume-to-lymphocyte ratio and C-reactive protein, and total serum bilirubin, but lower levels of peripheral lymphocyte count, serum albumin and serum prealbumin. Age (in months), peripheral neutrophil count, lymphocyte count and mean platelet volume and serum albumin were independent indicators for IVIG resistance by multivariate logistic regression analysis. A logistic regression model and a scoring system were set up, where cut-off values of - 0.46 and 6.5 points yielded sensitivities of 83.9% and 77.4%, and specificities of 74.8% and 61.0%, respectively. The areas under the curve (AUC) were 0.808 in the logistic regression model, and 0.750 in the scoring system.

CONCLUSION

Our model for predicting IVIG-resistant children with KD, involving age (months), peripheral neutrophil count, lymphocyte count and mean platelet volume and serum albumin prior to IVIG-treatment, is helpful for clinical prediction of children with IVIG-resistant KD.

Efficacy of infliximab in the treatment of Kawasaki disease: A systematic review and meta-analysis

The present study aimed to review the relevant studies in order to determine the efficacy of infliximab (IFX) in the treatment of Kawasaki disease (KD). The relevant studies were retrieved using the PubMed, Cochrane and Embase databases. Key sources in the literature were reviewed; all articles published by July 2019 were considered for inclusion. For each study, odds ratios, mean difference and 95% confidence interval (95% CI) were assessed to evaluate study outcomes. A total of 16 studies involving 429 patients were relevant to the questions of interest of the current meta-analysis. Compared with intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG), IFX or IFX plus IVIG significantly reduced the incidence of adverse events, including the number of patients with fever, changes in lip and oral cavity and/or cervical lymphadenopathy. The white blood cell (WBC), neutrophil and C-reactive protein (CRP) levels were also reduced in the IFX or IFX plus IVIG group compared with those in the IVIG or polyethylene glycol-treated human immunoglobulin (VGIH) groups. The platelet counts, alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels and Z-scores were increased in the IFX or IFX plus IVIG groups compared with those in the IVIG or VGIH groups. In the single-arm studies, the incidence of coronary artery aneurysm was 0.150 (95% CI: 0.024, 0.277), the non-response rate was 0.097 (95% CI: 0.056, 0.138), and the incidence of adverse events was 0.156 (95% CI: 0.122, 0.190). IFX not only effectively reduced the incidence of fever, conjunctival injection, changes in lip and oral cavity and cervical lymphadenopathy polymorphous exanthema, but also the WBC, neutrophil, ALT and CRP levels. The platelet levels were increased in patients after the IFX therapy compared with patients in the IVIG or VGIH groups. IFX or IFX plus IVIG exhibited improved clinical efficacy in the treatment of KD compared with that of IVIG or VGIH. However, as a limited number of studies was included in the current study, the findings should be verified further.

The Impact of Moderate-Dose Acetylsalicylic Acid in the Reduction of Inflammatory Cytokine and Prevention of Complication in Acute Phase of Kawasaki Disease: The Benefit of Moderate-Dose Acetylsalicylic Acid

Background: Acetylsalicylic acid (ASA) is part of the recommended treatment of Kawasaki disease (KD). Controversies remain regarding the optimal dose of ASA. We aimed to evaluate the impact of different doses of ASA on inflammation control while minimizing adverse effects in the acute phase treatment of KD. Methods: The enrolled 323 patients with KD were divided into three groups according to ASA dose: moderate-dose (30–50 mg/kg/day), high-dose (80–100 mg/kg/day), and non-ASA. Results: High-dose ASA group showed a significantly shorter duration of fever from the start of treatment to remission than other groups. Baseline level and delta score of interleukin (IL)-1, IL-6, IL-10, tumor necrosis factor-α, and transforming growth factor β were not statistically different among the groups. The number of patients who received additional treatments in the non-ASA group was more than other groups. Coronary artery dilatation was not significantly different among the groups. One patient with high-dose ASA was diagnosed with Reye syndrome. Conclusion: Different doses of ASA did not show any differences in changes of inflammatory bio-makers and cytokines. However, high-dose ASA showed occurrence of Reye syndrome, and non-ASA showed intravenous immunoglobulin refractoriness. We suggest that moderate-dose ASA may be beneficial for the treatment of patients in the acute phase of KD.

Variation in the management of Kawasaki disease

Intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) reduces coronary aneurysms in patients with Kawasaki disease (KD), but additional management options remain challenging, with no generalisable evidence-based recommendations. We performed a survey of 724 physicians from 73 countries to assess variation in practice. IVIG was the preferred initial treatment by 659 (91%) of respondents. Criteria for adjunctive primary treatment varied considerably and definitions of IVIG resistance varied markedly by geographical continent, Human Development Index tiers and medical specialty. A second dose of IVIG was used most often for patients with coronary aneurysm non-responsive to initial treatment (572, 79%), but corticosteroids (379, 52%) and tumour necrosis factor alpha inhibitors (208, 29%) were also frequently used. Our findings highlight the need for international collaborative efforts to optimise management of patients with KD worldwide.

Epidemiology, Treatments, and Cardiac Complications in Patients with Kawasaki Disease: The Nationwide Survey in Japan, 2017-2018

OBJECTIVE

To report the epidemiologic characteristics, treatments, and cardiac complications of Kawasaki disease, using data from the nationwide survey in Japan.

STUDY DESIGN

The nationwide Kawasaki disease survey in Japan has been conducted biennially since 1970. The most recent survey was completed in 2019, obtaining information for patients who developed Kawasaki disease during 2017-2018. Survey respondents were hospitals specializing in pediatrics and those with ≥100 beds and a pediatric department throughout Japan, where patients with Kawasaki disease were eventually hospitalized.

RESULTS

The survey identified 32 528 patients with Kawasaki disease, which consisted of 15 164 (46.6%) in 2017 and 17 364 (53.4%) in 2018. The highest annual incidence rate was recorded in 2018 (359 per 100 000 children aged 0-4 years). After 1982, patients with ≤4 principal Kawasaki disease signs gradually increased, resulting in 6847 (21.1%) patients diagnosed during 2017-2018. Among the 30 784 patients receiving initial intravenous immunoglobulin administration, 6061 (19.7%) did not respond. Within 30 days of Kawasaki disease onset, 9.0% of patients were diagnosed with cardiac complications, and 2.6% of patients developed cardiac sequelae after the acute illness.

CONCLUSIONS

The annual number of patients developing Kawasaki disease in Japan increased from 1970 through 2018, whereas the proportion of patients with Kawasaki disease with cardiac complications decreased in the most recent 2 decades. Early diagnosis of Kawasaki disease as well as advances in initial treatments could explain these findings.

Anakinra And Etanercept Combination Treatment in a Child With Severe, Nonresponsive Kawasaki Disease

Kawasaki disease (KD) patients' resistance to treatment with intravenous immunoglobulins (IVIG) places them at high risk for an unfavorable progression of the disease. In these patients, there has been little evidence that alternative treatments are effective. Nevertheless, biologicals such as an interleukin-1-receptor blocker and tumor-necrosis-factor-α inhibitors increasingly have been used. If the patient does not respond to one of these therapeutics, a combination of 2 biologicals might be an alternative, but this is not yet generally accepted due to the potentially increased risk of infection. Here we report on a 3-month-old boy suffering from severe refractory KD. KD diagnosis was delayed due to the misinterpretation of a urinary tract infection and to the short and nonsimultaneous presence of classical KD symptoms. After complete KD later was able to be diagnosed, treatment with intravenous immunoglobulins was administered. However, the disease proved resistant to 2 courses of IVIG, as well as to corticosteroids. The patient developed giant coronary artery aneurysms early during the course of disease. Anakinra was initiated, but even with stepwise higher anakinra dosages, he remained febrile and coronary artery dimensions increased. Therefore, etanercept was added as a second biological. Only under combination treatment with anakinra and etanercept were his inflammation and fever able to be completely resolved. Coronary artery dimensions improved over time.