Compromissione Cardiovascolare Nella Malattia Di Kawasaki

Kawasaki disease is a systemic acute vasculitis of medium size vessels, typical of pediatric age and in particular of children younger than 5 years. The most relevant complication is represented by coronary aneurisms. Diagnosis is essentially clinical and therapy is based on intravenous immunoglobulines (IVIG). The aim of this study is to describe Kawasaki disease in a population of 60 patients and to identify the principal risk factors for coronary damage. The disease presented in typical form in the 77% of patients, in incomplete form in 18% and in atypical form in 5%. Remission has been achieved with a single IVIG administration in the 77% of patients and the 81% has been treated with IVIG during the first 10 days from the beginning of the disease. Coronary damage resulted in the 55% of patients, but only the 21% of them (the 12% of all patients) presented a permanent coronary damage. In our patients these risk factors for coronary damage have been identified: the male gender, the incomplete or atypical disease, the non-response to the first administration of IVIG and the administration of IVIG after 10 days from the beginning of the disease.