Consensus Committee of experts on Kawasaki Disease and Chinese Journal of Contemporary Pediatrics – the expert consensuses on intravenous immunoglobulin, aspirin, and glucocorticoid

Abstract

Introduction and aim. Kawasaki disease (KD) is an acute vasculitis with unknown etiology, usually occurring in chil dren under 5 years old. This article will summarize the three consensuses formulated in China about KD. Material and methods. English databases for consensus search include UpToDate, BMJ Clinical Evidence, National Guideline Clearinghouse, Joanna Briggs Institute Library, Cochrane Library, and PubMed, etc.; Chinese databases in clude China Biomedical Literature Service, China Knowledge Network, Wanfang database, etc. All literature searches ended on February 28, 2022. Analysis of the literature. KD is a common acquired heart disease in children and can lead to severe complications such as coronary injury. However, intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) combined with oral aspirin (Asp) is currently recognized as the most effective treatment in KD acute stage and the first-line treatment to prevent cardiovascular complications. Glucocorticoid (GC) is mainly used for KD patients with a high risk of coronary artery aneurysm (CAA), no immunoglobulin response, and confirmed CAA. There are already consensus guidelines on diagnosing and treat ing KD in different countries. This article summarizes the relevant expert consensus on aspirin, glucocorticoids and IVIG for the treatment of Kawasaki disease in China. Conclusion. Still, there are inconsistent opinions in the literature on the mechanism, optimal timing, and dosage of medication for KD.