[Kawasaki syndrome]

Abstract

Recent studies support the hypothesis that Kawasaki disease is due to a hyperimmune vasculitis, probably of infectious origin. In addition, current data highlight the frequency of atypical (oligosymptomatic) aspects of the disease which may not be recognized, thereby worsening its cardiovascular prognosis. The types of cardiac lesions encountered, notably those of the coronary arteries, have now been well established by sequential echocardiographic studies. Several therapeutic trials have confirmed the effectiveness of gammaglobulins (400 mg/kg.day) and acetylsalicylic acid in preventing the formation of coronary aneurysms. These recent advances in the understanding and treatment of Kawasaki disease may lead to a reappraisal of its diagnostic and prognostic criteria and open the way to multiple lines of research.