Common carotid artery intima-media thickness is useful for diagnosis of the acute stage of Kawasaki disease.

Background: This study aimed to investigate intima-media thickness (IMT) of the common carotid arteries in children with acute Kawasaki disease (KD).

Methods: Between 2009 and 2011, patients fulfilling the criteria for KD, including a fever lasting >5 days, were prospectively enrolled in this study. Laboratory data, echocardiography, and IMT were measured and compared with matched controls.

Results: A total of 70 common carotid IMTs were measured in 35 children. We studied 21 patients aged 3-60 months old with acute KD and 14 febrile patients aged 3-194 months old with acute infection and similar characteristics to those of KD patients. Children with KD had a significantly higher IMT compared with the controls (0.550 ± 0.081 mm vs. 0.483 ± 0.046 mm, P = 0.01).

Conclusions: IMT during the acute stage of KD is increased, suggesting that IMT could be a useful diagnostic tool in the early diagnosis of KD.