Long term follow-up study of patients with Kawasaki disease

Abstract

Purpose: To investigate the long-term prognosis of patients with Kawasaki disease in Korea, and discuss the need for long-term follow-up. Methods: The subjects were 48 patients among 354 who had been hospitalized due to Kawasaki disease, and who consented to echocardiography and exercise challenge testing. The mean duration from the onset of disease to follow-up testing after rehospitalization was 11.6 years (8.2-17.0). Patients without coronary artery aneurysms at the initial presentation of the disease were classified in group 1, and patients with small aneurysms were in group 2. Test abnormalities and differences between the two groups were analyzed. Result: There were no significant differences in the results of follow-up echocardiography and exercise challenge testing between the two groups. Although no abnormal findings were noted at follow-up in most patients, a 9-year-old boy in group 2 showed coronary artery dilation. The exercise test indicated normal results in both groups, and echocardiography results were also normal in 100% of cases in group 1 and 93.3% of cases in group 2. Conclusions: As some patients with coronary aneurysms showed coronary artery dilation, we believe that long-term follow-up may be selectively required in patients with coronary artery complications.