Update on Diagnosis and Management of Kawasaki Disease
Published: November 13, 2024
- Kawasaki Disease (KD) remains a clinical diagnosis with significant evidence that early diagnosis is imperative to reduce the risk of coronary artery aneurysms (CAA).
- Managing KD involves timely diagnosis and precise assessment of Z-scores (a statistical measure comparing coronary artery size to population norms) to determine risk and administer dual therapy to high-risk patients. This approach is reinforced by advanced imaging techniques and coordinated multidisciplinary care.
- Long-term follow-up and transition plans into adulthood are vital for patients with KD and coronary artery involvement.
Diagnosis and Management of Kawasaki Disease: 2024 Update
Pei-Ni Jone, MD and Adriana Tremoulet, MD, MAS discuss the latest update on the diagnosis and management of Kawasaki disease, a new scientific statement from the American Heart Association. Key changes since the 2017 guidelines include diagnostic criteria, echocardiogram usage, updated treatment protocols, and long-term management for patients with coronary artery abnormalities.
Supporting Materials
Recommended Reading
- Risk Factors of Coronary Artery Abnormalities and Resistance to Intravenous Immunoglobulin Plus Corticosteroid Therapy in Severe Kawasaki Disease
- 2024 AHA/ACC/AMSSM/HRS/PACES/SCMR Guideline for the Management of Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy
- Falling Through the Cracks: The Current Gap in the Health Care Transition of Patients With Kawasaki Disease
- Diagnosis, Treatment, and Long-Term Management of Kawasaki Disease