TREATMENT APPROACHES FOR KAWASAKI DISEASE: A NARRATIVE REVIEW ON CURRENT PRACTICES

Edwin Dias* and Yeshashwini Naik

ABSTRACT

Kawasaki disease (KD) is a medium vessel vasculitis that predominantly affects the coronary arteries and is recognized as the leading cause of acquired heart disease in children.[7] KD diagnosis is still a clinical challenge, and there is no confirmatory lab test available to diagnose it. The KD diagnostic criteria have undergone periodic revisions. The American Heart Association's and the Kawasaki Disease Research Committee's guidelines are the two sets of diagnostic criteria that have been applied to this ailment the most.[7] The clinical and epidemiologic aspects of KD strongly point to an infectious cause. KD is prevalent around the world, with Japan, Korea, and Taiwan having the highest rates because of heightened genetic vulnerability in Asian people.[6] Aneurysms can occur from delayed treatment, treatment refractory conditions or missing diagnoses, and in up to 25% of affected individuals, these events can result in severe cardiac sequelae, including myocardial infarctions. Thus, in developed countries, KD is the most commonly acquired cardiac disease.[5] The therapeutic approaches for patients with Kawasaki disease are summed up in this review. The goal of treatment is to reduce the risk of coronary artery aneurysm formation by reducing coronary artery inflammation with intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG), aspirin, corticosteroids; additionally, anticoagulant, antiplatelet, and thrombolytic agents are used to treat cardiovascular complications of the disease. Supplementary to the primary treatment plan, supportive care is also necessary.[10]

Keywords: Kawasaki disease, Coronary artery aneurysm, Intravenous immunoglobulin.