Kawasaki Disease in 159 Iranian Children

Objective: Kawasaki disease (KD) is an intense life-threatening vasculitis. The diagnosis ofKawasaki disease is made by clinical criteria. This disease is a common rheumatologic disease inIran. The aim of this study was describe the demographics and clinical features of KD in Iranianpatients.Material Methods: A review was conducted for all cases of KD treated at Pediatric rheumatologydepartment in Children s Medical Center between January 1994 and July 2004. The diagnosticcriteria for typical Kawasaki were based on the criteria of the Japan Kawasaki Disease ResearchCommittee. Atypical or incomplete KD has been described in which patients not strictly meeting thediagnostic criteria but have coronary artery changes. Color doppler echocardiograms were done at thetime of diagnosis, 14 to 21 days, 60 days, and 1 year after treatment.Findings: One hundred fifty nine patients were identified. One hundred twenty five children (78.6%)fulfilled criteria for typical KD. Echocardiographic abnormalities were found in 30 cases (18.9%),including 9.6% with typical and 46.1% with atypical Kawasaki. The incidence of atypical Kawasakiin our study was about 22%. Coronary arteries aneurysms found in 66.7% and 33.3% was otherabnormalities. Male to female ratio was more in patients with cardiac complication (2.3:1).Conclusion: Kawasaki disease should be considered in any infants or child (especially less than 2years old) with a prolonged febrile illness. Demographic features of our patients were similar toreports from other country. The incidence of atypical Kawasaki in our study was about 22%.