LATE INTRAVENOUS GAMMA-GLOBULIN TREATMENT IN INFANTS AND CHILDREN WITH KAWASAKI-DISEASE AND CORONARY-ARTERY ABNORMALITIES

Kawasaki disease or mucocutaneous lymph node syndrome is a febrile illness affecting infants and children. The major complication leading to mortality and morbidity is the development of coronary artery aneurysms or ectasia, occurring in approximately 10 to 25% of the patients affected by this disease.1-3 High-dose intravenous gamma globulin is effective in reducing the incidence of coronary artery abnormalities. 1,4 If this treatment is not administered within 10 days from the onset of the disease, its efficacy is questionable. 1,5 This study assesses the effect of a later gamma globulin treatment on the course of established coronary artery abnormalities. © 1991.