Predicting coronary aneurysms in Kawasaki disease

Abstract

Intravenous immunoglobulin is used to prevent coronary artery involvement in patients with acute Kawasaki disease. In this issue of the journal, Beiser et al provide a scoring system that is invoked 24 hours after gamma globulin therapy to predict risk for coronary involvement. This instrument would be useful for pediatric cardiologists and pediatricians in planning later management of patients with Kawasaki disease and counseling parents regarding long-term outcome.