Heart and coronary artery damage related to Kawasaki syndrome
Kawasaki syndrome is an acute systemic vasculitis of unknown etiology, which mainly affects children within the first 5 years of life. At the present time, Kawasaki syndrome is recognized to be a leading cause of acquired organic heart diseases in children, which may result in coronary heart disease, myocardial infarction, and sudden death in children and young people. Most complications are associated with the cardiovascular system, with coronary artery changes in particular. Tansthoracic echocardiography, which, besides coronary artery assessment, makes it possible to evaluate right and left ventricular systolic and diastolic functions and to study the cardiac valves and changes in pericardial effusion, is a major technique in Kawasaki syndrome. The paper outlines an update on the epidemiology, etiology, pathogenetic mechanisms, and pathomorphology of Kawasaki syndrome and considers possible coronary and noncoronary changes, outcomes, and clinical manifestations.