The relationship between history of ischemic heart disease in parents of children with Kawasaki Disease with severity of heart complications and disease recurrence in these children

Kawasaki disease (KD, also called mucocutaneous lymph node syndrome) is one of the most common childhood vasculitis. Although the etiology of the disease is unknown infectious, genetic and immunologic factors have been supposed to be responsible for KD occurrence. Complications such as coronary artery aneurysm, cardiomyopathy and heart failure, may occur, which can cause significant morbidity and mortality in children. KD is the common cause of acquired heart disease in children in the United States and Japan. 61 patients with approved KD admitted in the Mofid Children’s Hospital (from December 2004 to January 2008) and their parents were studied in this cross-sectional survey. 11 patients were omitted according to exclusion criteria, 50 patients were divided into two groups: Mild (n=26) and severe (n=24). Data was analyzed via Fisher’s exact test and student’s t-test using SPSS software, V. 11,5. p<0.05was taken into account significant. 50 patients (32 males, 18 females) with mean age of 43 months were concluded in this survey. All of the patients had fever (100%), coronary artery aneurism was seen in 2% of the patients. No recurrence of KD was seen among these children and there was no history of KD in their parents and siblings. Mitral valve prolaps in mothers and ischemic heart disease in fathers among sever group were significantly higher than mild group (p=0.03 and p=0.001, respectively). Mitral regurgitation and 2-times receiving IVIG was significantly higher in severe group (p=0.02 and p=0.008, respectively). This study showed that mitral valve prolaps in mothers and ischemic heart disease in fathers had significant relation with Kawasaki disease in their children. Also, CRP, ESR, Na, LFT and echocardiography are useful to detect and manage severe Kawasaki disease. To provide more accurate conclusions, prospective and multicentric studies with larger sample sizes are necessary.