Subclinical atherosclerosis, but normal autonomic function after Kawasaki disease.

Abstract

To compare the carotid artery intima-media-thickness (IMT) of children with Kawasaki disease with normative data for Western children. Forty-eight children (20 patients after Kawasaki disease, mean age 12.1 +/- 4.7 years; 28 age- and sex-matched healthy controls, mean age 12.0 +/- 3.1 years) were studied. Mean (IMT differed significantly (0.449 +/- 0.02 vs 0.424 +/- 0.01, P < .001) as well as IMT standard deviation score (1.2 +/- 0.6 vs 0.3 +/- 0.1, P < .001). Patients with coronary arterial involvement (n = 15) showed a further increase of the IMT (0.459 +/- 0.01 vs 0.436 +/- 0.01, P < .05). There was no difference regarding short-term blood pressure regulation. In this small patient group, signs of subclinical atherosclerosis after Kawasaki disease have been detected. These preliminary data indicate that these patients may be at risk for cardiovascular disease even in the absence of permanent alterations of the coronary arteries.