Subclinical aterosclerosis and Kawasaki Disease (KD): results from an e- tracking study of arterial stiffness in a Sicilian population

Patients with Kawasaki Disease (KD) may have an increased risk for early atherosclerosis. Arterial stiffness (AS) has recently recognized as a predictor of atherosclerosis. AIM of this study was to evaluate AS in a populations of KD patients (pts). The study was performed by means of E-tracking, a system measuring changes in arterial diameter synchronized with the ECG signal and permitting evaluation of pulse wave propagation velocity in a point of the vascular system. Twenty children who had suffered from KD and 20-age- and sex-matched healthy controls were enrolled. In each subject, E-tracking was performed in both common carortid arteries. The following parameters were calculated: 1) Stiffness index, 2) Pulse wave velocity, 3) Elastic modulus, and arterial compliance. In addition, intima-media thickness (IMT) was measured. Kawasaki patients' age at examination was 5 years; the mean time interval between the disease onset and the testing time was 3.5 years. Coronary involvement was recognized in 6 pts. All KD pts show a significant AS compromise as expressed by increase in stiffness index, pulse wave velocity and elastic modulus, as well as by arterial compliance decrease. IMT was normal. Pts with KD show a clear arterial stiffening. This report is the first one describing changes in AS revealed by E-tracking in pts with KD; we suggest that E-tracking study could be more sensitive than IMT in revealing arterial damage in KD