High Frequency of Cardiovascular Complications in Tunisian Kawasaki Disease Patients: Need for a Further Awareness

• Published in: Journal of tropical pediatrics (1980) Vol. 65; no. 3; p. 217
• Main Authors: Ben Chehida, Amel, Ben Messaoud, Sana, Ben Abdelaziz, Rim, Boudabous, Hela, Oujra, Mariem, Ben Turkia, Hadhami, Abdelmoula, Mohamed Slim, Azzouz, Hatem, Hakim, Kaothar, Tebib, Neji
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England 01.06.2019
• Subjects: Child, Preschool; Comorbidity; Coronary Aneurysm - diagnostic imaging; Coronary Aneurysm - epidemiology; Coronary Aneurysm - etiology; Coronary Vessel Anomalies - diagnostic imaging; Coronary Vessel Anomalies - epidemiology; Delayed Diagnosis; Echocardiography; Female; Fever of Unknown Origin - epidemiology; Humans; Immunoglobulins, Intravenous - administration & dosage; Incidence; Infant; Male; Mucocutaneous Lymph Node Syndrome - diagnostic imaging; Mucocutaneous Lymph Node Syndrome - drug therapy; Mucocutaneous Lymph Node Syndrome - epidemiology; Myocardial Infarction - diagnostic imaging; Myocardial Infarction - epidemiology; Retrospective Studies; Sex Factors; Tomography, X-Ray Computed; Treatment Outcome; Tunisia - epidemiology; Tunisia; computed tomography; aortic aneurysm; mucocutaneous lymph node syndrome; coronary aneurysm; echocardiography; myocardial infarction
• DOI: 10.1093/tropej/fmy036

The outcome of Kawasaki disease (KD) depends on cardiovascular complications (CVCs). This study aimed to explore diagnostic features and CVCs in Tunisian patients with KD. In total, 33 Tunisian patients (age, 2.9 ± 2.2 years) fulfilling the diagnosis criteria of KD, were retrospectively reviewed. Nonparametric tests were used to compare the two groups with regards to coronary complications (CCs). Diagnosis of KD was established at day 11 ± 5.1 from the beginning of the fever. Apyrexia was obtained in an average of 29 h after completion of intravenous immunoglobulin. CVCs were identified in 52% of cases: CC in 15 patients (giant aneurysm >8 mm in five patients) and non-CCs in 6 patients (severe in three patients). CCs were more frequently associated with the male sex (p = 0.037), fever lasting >8 days (p = 0.028) and longer time to apyrexia (p = 0.031). In Tunisia, better knowledge and monitoring of KD are warranted.