The value of echocardiographic diagnosis and pros and cons of steroids treatment in Kawasaki disease

Echocardiography and coronary angiography is mainly used for the diagnosis of cardiovascular disease, we mainly evaluate the value of two-dimensional echocardiography (2D echo) in Kawasaki disease (KD). Steroids role in the primary treatment of KD is controversial. Our aim is to conduct a study to ascertain whether the addition of steroids to intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) for the treatment of KD should be administrated and might improve clinical outcomes. The medical record of total 553 patients with KD hospitalized in Jilin province were reviewed and analyzed. The results showed that all patients with KD were examined by 2D echo. 350 patients (63.3%) were found to exist coronary arterial lesions. 80 patients that did not occurred coronary arterial lesions (CAL) before administrated of steroids, 64 of them occurred CAL. In conclusion, echocardiography is the primary means in the diagnosis of CAL with KD. Steroids plus IVIG in primary therapy of KD can relieve symptoms quickly and reduce the re-application of IVIG, but patients treated with steroids had a possible heightened risk of contracting CAL.