This review summarizes current literature to assist clinicians in the evaluation and management of adults who suffered from Kawasaki disease in childhood.
Kawaski disease (KD) is an acute, self-limited vasculitis that typically occurs in young children and was first described by Japanese pediatrician Tomisaku Kawasaki in 1967. Although originally thought to be a rare condition, KD has become the most common cause of acquired heart disease in the pediatric age group in developed countries. The majority of patients with KD appear to have a benign prognosis but a subset of patients with coronary artery aneurysms are at risk for ischemic events and require lifelong treatment. In the four decades that have passed since the initial recognition of KD, the number of patients reaching adulthood has continued to grow. Adult cardiologists will be increasingly involved in the management these patients. Currently, there are no established guidelines for the evaluation and treatment of adult patients who have had KD. We review here the current literature that may be helpful to clinicians who care for adults who suffered from KD in childhood.
“What we're really aiming for with this paper is to build bridges. It's a disservice to give people excellent care for Kawasaki disease, then send them off into the world not understanding that they may have a life-threatening illness.”
Gordon et al. (Sun,) conducted a review in Kawasaki disease. This review summarizes current literature to assist clinicians in the evaluation and management of adults who suffered from Kawasaki disease in childhood.