Predictors of Intravenous Immunoglobulin (IVIG) Resistance in Children with Kawasaki Disease in Calabria Region, Italy

• Main Authors: Valentina Talarico, Sara Rizzo, Maria Cirillo, Paola Chiarello, Roberta Bianchi, Roberto Miniero, Maria Concetta Galati, Giuseppe Raiola
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Mashhad University of Medical Sciences 2019-02-01
• Series: International Journal of Pediatrics
• Subjects: Children; Intravenous Immunoglobulin; Kawasaki disease; Resistance
• Online Access: http://ijp.mums.ac.ir/article_11570_9633ab34634b23d0e2eed061f08d5d25.pdf

Background Kawasaki disease (KD) is the second most common childhood vasculitis and one of the main causes of acquired heart disease in children. Recent work focuses on the early diagnostic importance of those risk factors that indicate resistance to intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) treatment. The objectives of this study were to identify clinical, laboratory and/or instrumental factors that could be correlated with the risk of resistance to IVIG and the applicability of standard score systems. Materials and Methods We retrospectively reviewed clinical records of 23 children with KD, diagnosed in five consecutive years. They all underwent laboratory and echocardiography investigations and initial treatment with IVIG. Based on the response to IVIG they were divided into two groups: IVIG responders (n=14), and IVIG non-responders (n=9). Results 39% (n= 9) of patients were non-responders. Laboratory exams were overlapping between the two groups except for platelets (p