Biomarkers for the Discrimination of Acute Kawasaki Disease From Infections in Childhood.

Kawasaki disease (KD) is a vasculitis of early childhood mimicking several infectious diseases. Differentiation between KD and infectious diseases is essential as KD's most important complication-the development of coronary artery aneurysms (CAA)-can be largely avoided by timely treatment with intravenous immunoglobulins (IVIG). Currently, KD diagnosis is only based on clinical criteria.

Giant aneurysms: A gender-specific complication of Kawasaki disease?

Background: Kawasaki disease (KD) is a pediatric vasculitis of unknown origin. Its main complication is the development of coronary artery aneurysms (CAA) with giant CAA at the end of the spectrum.

Methods: In this cohort study, we evaluated the association between patient characteristics and the development of giant CAA based on z-scores.

Extracardial Vasculopathy After Kawasaki Disease: A Long-Term Follow-up Study.

Background: Kawasaki disease (KD) is a pediatric vasculitis with coronary artery aneurysm (CAA) as a major complication. Controversy exists about cardiovascular risk later in life. The aim of our study was to evaluate whether KD patients are at increased risk, as assessed by carotid intima-media thickness (cIMT).

Carotid Intima-Media Thickness in Patients With a History of Kawasaki Disease.

Background: Kawasaki disease (KD) is an acute pediatric vasculitis with coronary artery aneurysms (CAA) as its main complication. Concerns have been raised regarding the possibility of a predisposition of KD to premature cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk later in life. Our aim was to assess carotid intima-media thickness (cIMT), as a surrogate marker of CVD risk, in patients with a history of KD compared with unaffected controls.

Peripheral Endothelial (Dys)Function, Arterial Stiffness and Carotid Intima-Media Thickness in Patients after Kawasaki Disease: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analyses.

Background: Kawasaki disease (KD) is a systemic pediatric vasculitis. Its main complication is the development of coronary arterial aneurysms (CAA), causing an increased risk for ischemia and myocardial infarction. It is unclear whether KD patients, apart from the presence of CAA, have an increased cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk due to the previous systemic vasculitis.