{"title":"Epidemiological and clinical features of Kawasaki disease and risk factors for cardiac involvement: A study about 32 Tunisian children","authors":"Rania Gargouri , Ines Maaloul , Imen Chabchoub , Hajer Aloulou , Salma Charfeddine , Leila Abid","doi":"10.1016/j.acvd.2025.06.036","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Introduction</h3><div>Arteries in children. Untreated, approximately 25% of patients develop coronary complications, making KD the most common vasculitis in children under 5 years of age. While its incidence is highest in Japan, data from Tunisia remain limited. Early diagnosis and treatment with intravenous immunoglobulins (IVIG) significantly reduce the risk of coronary artery lesions (CAL).</div></div><div><h3>Method</h3><div>This study aimed to analyze the clinical and echocardiographic features of cardiovascular involvement in a cohort of Tunisian children with KD and identify risk factors associated with cardiac complications.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>A retrospective, descriptive, and analytical study was conducted at Hédi Chaker University Hospital in Sfax, Tunisia, from January 2015 to December 2021. Children under 14 years diagnosed with complete or incomplete form of KD according to the American Heart Association (AHA) criteria were included. Data on clinical, biological, and echocardiographic features were collected. Statistical analysis was performed using IBM SPSS version 20, with multivariate logistic regression to identify risk factors for CAL.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Among 32 patients (18 girls, 14 boys; mean age 3.6<!--> <!-->±<!--> <!-->2.6 years), 65.6% had incomplete KD. Cardiac involvement was observed in 78% of cases (n<!--> <!-->=<!--> <!-->25), including coronary artery dilation (n<!--> <!-->=<!--> <!-->23), hyperechogenicity of coronary arteries (n<!--> <!-->=<!--> <!-->15), and aneurysms (n<!--> <!-->=<!--> <!-->4). The left coronary artery was more frequently affected (n<!--> <!-->=<!--> <!-->19). Elevated C-reactive protein (CRP<!--> <!-->≥<!--> <!-->50<!--> <!-->mg/L; <em>p</em> <!-->=<!--> <!-->0.002) and leukocytosis (≥<!--> <!-->15,000/mm<sup>3</sup>; <em>p</em> <!-->=<!--> <!-->0.04) were independent predictors of CAL in multivariate analysis. All patients received IVIG (2<!--> <!-->g/kg) and acetylsalicylic acid, with favorable outcomes.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>Incomplete form of KD was predominant in this Tunisian cohort, with a high prevalence of CAL. Elevated CRP and leukocytosis were significant risk factors for cardiac involvement. Early identification of these predictors may improve risk stratification and guide timely intervention to prevent coronary complications.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":55472,"journal":{"name":"Archives of Cardiovascular Diseases","volume":"118 8","pages":"Page S266"},"PeriodicalIF":2.2000,"publicationDate":"2025-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Archives of Cardiovascular Diseases","FirstCategoryId":"3","ListUrlMain":"https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1875213625003638","RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q2","JCRName":"CARDIAC & CARDIOVASCULAR SYSTEMS","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0
Abstract
Introduction
Arteries in children. Untreated, approximately 25% of patients develop coronary complications, making KD the most common vasculitis in children under 5 years of age. While its incidence is highest in Japan, data from Tunisia remain limited. Early diagnosis and treatment with intravenous immunoglobulins (IVIG) significantly reduce the risk of coronary artery lesions (CAL).
Method
This study aimed to analyze the clinical and echocardiographic features of cardiovascular involvement in a cohort of Tunisian children with KD and identify risk factors associated with cardiac complications.
Methods
A retrospective, descriptive, and analytical study was conducted at Hédi Chaker University Hospital in Sfax, Tunisia, from January 2015 to December 2021. Children under 14 years diagnosed with complete or incomplete form of KD according to the American Heart Association (AHA) criteria were included. Data on clinical, biological, and echocardiographic features were collected. Statistical analysis was performed using IBM SPSS version 20, with multivariate logistic regression to identify risk factors for CAL.
Results
Among 32 patients (18 girls, 14 boys; mean age 3.6 ± 2.6 years), 65.6% had incomplete KD. Cardiac involvement was observed in 78% of cases (n = 25), including coronary artery dilation (n = 23), hyperechogenicity of coronary arteries (n = 15), and aneurysms (n = 4). The left coronary artery was more frequently affected (n = 19). Elevated C-reactive protein (CRP ≥ 50 mg/L; p = 0.002) and leukocytosis (≥ 15,000/mm3; p = 0.04) were independent predictors of CAL in multivariate analysis. All patients received IVIG (2 g/kg) and acetylsalicylic acid, with favorable outcomes.
Conclusion
Incomplete form of KD was predominant in this Tunisian cohort, with a high prevalence of CAL. Elevated CRP and leukocytosis were significant risk factors for cardiac involvement. Early identification of these predictors may improve risk stratification and guide timely intervention to prevent coronary complications.
期刊介绍:
The Journal publishes original peer-reviewed clinical and research articles, epidemiological studies, new methodological clinical approaches, review articles and editorials. Topics covered include coronary artery and valve diseases, interventional and pediatric cardiology, cardiovascular surgery, cardiomyopathy and heart failure, arrhythmias and stimulation, cardiovascular imaging, vascular medicine and hypertension, epidemiology and risk factors, and large multicenter studies. Archives of Cardiovascular Diseases also publishes abstracts of papers presented at the annual sessions of the Journées Européennes de la Société Française de Cardiologie and the guidelines edited by the French Society of Cardiology.