Kawasaki disease
Updates to Article Attributes
Kawasaki disease (KD) is a small to medium vessel vasculitis predominantly affecting young children. It can affect any body organ but there is a predilection for the coronary vessels.
Pathology
An autoimmune aetiology has been postulated. It is generally self limiting but acute fatalities are thought to occur in ~1% of cases. The most concerning morbidity is due to coronary involvement where it can manifest as a myocarditis with coronary arterial aneurysm formation 1,2,4.
Radiographic features
Plain radiograph
Chest radiographs can be normal. Abnormal findings are non specific-specific and include a reticulogranular pattern, peribronchial cuffing, a pleural effusion, atelectasis and/or air trapping 1.
Rarely, a few years after resolution of the initial episode, the patient may present with calcified coronary artery aneurysms visible on the chest x-ray 8. Although rare, this is an Aunt Minnie presentation of Kawasaki disease sequelae in older patients.
Coronary angiography / CT angiography
May show small coronary arterial ectasiae, aneurysms or stenoses. Angiography is the most sensitive and specific for vascular assessment 4.
MRI / MR angiography
Useful in assessing myocardial perfusion, wall thinning as well as aneurysms (MRA).
History and etymology
It is named after the Japanese physician (paediatrician) Tomisaku Kawasaki who initially described it in 1967 7.
-<p><strong>Kawasaki disease (KD)</strong> is a small to medium vessel <a href="/articles/vasculitis">vasculitis</a> predominantly affecting young children. It can affect any body organ but there is a predilection for the coronary vessels. </p><h4>Pathology</h4><p>An autoimmune aetiology has been postulated. It is generally self limiting but acute fatalities are thought to occur in ~1% of cases. The most concerning morbidity is due to coronary involvement where it can manifest as a <a href="/articles/myocarditis">myocarditis</a> with <a href="/articles/coronary-artery-aneurysm">coronary arterial aneurysm</a> formation <sup>1,2,4</sup>. </p><h4>Radiographic features</h4><h5>Plain radiograph</h5><p>Chest radiographs can be normal. Abnormal findings are non specific and include a reticulogranular pattern, <a href="/articles/peri-bronchial-cuffing-2">peribronchial cuffing</a>, a <a href="/articles/pleural-effusion">pleural effusion</a>, <a href="/articles/lobar-lung-collapse">atelectasis</a> and/or <a href="/articles/air-trapping">air trapping</a> <sup>1</sup>.</p><p>Rarely, a few years after resolution of the initial episode, the patient may present with calcified <a href="/articles/coronary-artery-aneurysm">coronary artery aneurysms</a> visible on the chest x-ray <sup>8</sup>. Although rare, this is an <a href="/articles/aunt-minnie">Aunt Minnie</a> presentation of Kawasaki disease sequelae in older patients.</p><h5>Coronary angiography / CT angiography</h5><p>May show small coronary arterial ectasiae, aneurysms or stenoses. Angiography is the most sensitive and specific for vascular assessment <sup>4</sup>.</p><h5>MRI / MR angiography</h5><p>Useful in assessing myocardial perfusion, wall thinning as well as aneurysms (MRA) </p><h4>History and etymology</h4><p>It is named after the Japanese physician (paediatrician) <strong>Tomisaku Kawasaki</strong> who initially described it in 1967 <sup>7</sup>.</p>- +<p><strong>Kawasaki disease (KD)</strong> is a small to medium vessel <a href="/articles/vasculitis">vasculitis</a> predominantly affecting young children. It can affect any body organ but there is a predilection for the coronary vessels.</p><h4>Pathology</h4><p>An autoimmune aetiology has been postulated. It is generally self limiting but acute fatalities are thought to occur in ~1% of cases. The most concerning morbidity is due to coronary involvement where it can manifest as a <a href="/articles/myocarditis">myocarditis</a> with <a href="/articles/coronary-artery-aneurysm">coronary arterial aneurysm</a> formation <sup>1,2,4</sup>.</p><h4>Radiographic features</h4><h5>Plain radiograph</h5><p>Chest radiographs can be normal. Abnormal findings are non-specific and include a reticulogranular pattern, <a href="/articles/peri-bronchial-cuffing-2">peribronchial cuffing</a>, a <a href="/articles/pleural-effusion">pleural effusion</a>, <a href="/articles/lobar-lung-collapse">atelectasis</a> and/or <a href="/articles/air-trapping">air trapping</a> <sup>1</sup>.</p><p>Rarely, a few years after resolution of the initial episode, the patient may present with calcified <a href="/articles/coronary-artery-aneurysm">coronary artery aneurysms</a> visible on the chest x-ray <sup>8</sup>. Although rare, this is an <a href="/articles/aunt-minnie">Aunt Minnie</a> presentation of Kawasaki disease sequelae in older patients.</p><h5>Coronary angiography / CT angiography</h5><p>May show small coronary arterial ectasiae, aneurysms or stenoses. Angiography is the most sensitive and specific for vascular assessment <sup>4</sup>.</p><h5>MRI / MR angiography</h5><p>Useful in assessing myocardial perfusion, wall thinning as well as aneurysms (MRA).</p><h4>History and etymology</h4><p>It is named after the Japanese physician (paediatrician) <strong>Tomisaku Kawasaki</strong> who initially described it in 1967 <sup>7</sup>.</p>
Unable to process the form. Check for errors and try again.