Overlap between Kawasaki disease and group A streptococcal infection

Familial Kawasaki disease and acute glomerulonephritis: case report and review of literature

We report two siblings, a 6-year-old boy and his 4-year-old sister who were admitted with fever for 15 days and features of Kawasaki disease. After admission to the hospital, both patients developed red urine and headache. Blood pressure was found to be high in relation to blood pressure percentiles for both patients. Urine analysis showed the features of acute glomerulonephritis with normal urine output and renal function. A multidisciplinary discussion with the paediatric nephrologist, rheumatologist and cardiologist was conducted, and intravenous immunoglobulins, aspirin, pulsed methylprednisolone and antihypertensive therapy were added to the treatment plan with a good outcome.

High antistreptolysin O titer is associated with coronary artery lesions in patients with Kawasaki disease

Purpose

In Kawasaki disease (KD) patients, coronary artery complications, incomplete and refractory types occur more frequently in patients with streptococcal or other bacterial/viral infections. Recently, we observed a higher incidence of coronary lesions in KD patients with high anti-streptolysin O (ASO) titer. Therefore, we hypothesized that KD patients diagnosed with concurrent streptococcal infection have poor prognoses, with respect to treatment response and development of coronary artery lesions.

Methods

A retrospective review was performed in 723 patients with KD who were admitted to 2 major hospitals between June 2010 and September 2017.

Results

Among 723 patients with KD, 11 initially showed an elevated ASO titer (>320 IU/mL) or elevated follow-up ASO titer after treatment. Of these patients, 5 showed no response to the first intravenous immunoglobulin treatment, 3 had abnormalities of the coronary arteries. This is a significantly higher proportion of patients with a high ASO titer (n=3, 27.3%) than those with a normal ASO titer (n=53 [7.4%], P=0.047). A severe clinical course was seen in 81.8% of patients in the high ASO group versus 14.5% of patients in the normal ASO group.

Conclusion

It is not certain whether acute streptococcal infection may cause KD, but this study revealed that KD with high ASO titers showed higher rates of severe clinical course. It may be helpful to analyze concurrent streptococcal infection in patients with a severe clinical course.

Kawasaki disease shock syndrome: Unique and severe subtype of Kawasaki disease

BACKGROUND

Kawasaki disease shock syndrome (KDSS) is an uncommon presentation of Kawasaki disease (KD). KDSS has been associated with more severe markers of inflammation, coronary abnormalities and i.v. immunoglobulin (IVIG) resistance.

METHODS

A retrospective, descriptive study of children with KDSS in two hospitals was performed. Relevant articles about KD and shock were collected, and demographic data, clinical presentation, laboratory variables, echocardiogram findings, treatment and special features were analyzed when available. Twelve patients diagnosed with KDSS were retrospectively reviewed from two centers in Mexico, along with 91 additional cases from the literature.

RESULTS

Seventy-two patients presented with complete KD (69.9%), and 30.1% (31/103) had unusual KD manifestations. The most frequent diagnosis at the time of admission was toxic shock syndrome (TSS; n = 20). Sixteen of the 20 had coronary artery abnormalities. Overall, abnormalities in the coronary arteries were documented in 65% of the patients. The mortality rate was 6.8%.

CONCLUSION

The presence of coronary aneurysms was significantly and positively correlated with male gender, IVIG resistance, inotrope treatment, cardiac failure, abdominal pain and neurological symptoms. IVIG-resistant patients had higher neutrophil : lymphocyte ratio. Abdominal symptoms, hypoalbuminemia and elevated C-reactive protein were present in almost all of the patients. Multisystem involvement with atypical presentation in KDSS is frequent. An important differential diagnosis is TSS. Mechanical ventilation, gastrointestinal and neurological symptoms were associated with IVIG resistance and the presence of coronary aneurysms. The first line of treatment includes IVIG and pulse corticosteroids; in severe cases, infliximab, anakinra, cyclosporine or plasmapheresis are alternative treatment options.

Haemolytic uraemic syndrome with peripheral gangrene and Kawasaki disease in a 15-month-old child

A 15-month-old boy presented with atypical haemolytic uraemic syndrome (HUS) (without antecedent diarrhoea or dysentery) following a gluteal abscess and subsequently developed digital gangrene. During plasma infusion therapy for HUS, the clinical features of Kawasaki disease (KD) evolved. Intravenous immunoglobulin and aspirin therapy led to resolution of the KD. The case is notable for development of digital gangrene, a rare phenomenon described with HUS, as well as the development of features of KD. This is the first report of atypical HUS in association with peripheral gangrene and KD. The possible pathophysiological mechanisms are discussed.

Osteomyelitis in Kawasaki disease

A child who was having all symptoms of Kawasaki disease (KD) was diagnosed with osteomyelitis. Very quick response was appreciated with intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) infusion for all the symptoms except osteomyelitis. Long term antibiotics were required to treat it. This kind of overlap between KD and pyogenic osteomyelits due to S. aureus, further supports relationship between these two.

Incomplete Kawasaki disease associated with complicated Streptococcus pyogenes pneumonia: A case report

A three-year-old boy presented with community-acquired pneumonia complicated by empyema. Streptococcus pyogenes (group A streptococcus) was identified on culture of the pleural fluid. The patient improved with antibiotic therapy and drainage of the empyema. During his convalescence, the patient developed persistent fever, lethargy and anorexia. His inflammatory markers were elevated, and repeat cultures were negative. Although the patient had none of the classical mucocutaneous features of Kawasaki disease, an echocardiogram was performed, which revealed coronary artery dilation. The patient was diagnosed with incomplete Kawasaki disease and treated with intravenous immunoglobulin and high-dose acetylsalicylic acid. The fever subsided within 48 h. To the authors' knowledge, the present report is the first report of Kawasaki disease associated with complicated S pyogenes pneumonia. It emphasizes the importance of considering incomplete Kawasaki disease among children with persistent fever, the role of echocardiography in diagnosis, and the potential link between Kawasaki disease and superantigen-producing organisms such as S pyogenes.

Dengue fever and Kawasaki disease: a clinical dilemma

There are several pediatric conditions which can present with fever and rash; however, it is uncommon to have two diseases occurring in a patient at the same time. We report a young child with fever and rash. He was initially diagnosed to have dengue fever based on clinical features and serological tests. Later in the course of illness he developed findings consistent with Kawasaki disease. This is extremely unusual and has rarely been reported before.

Kawasaki disease in Australia, 1993-95

AIM

To describe the epidemiology, management, and rate of cardiac sequelae of Kawasaki disease in Australia.

DESIGN

Cases were notified to the Australian Paediatric Surveillance Unit, an active national surveillance scheme, from May 1993 to June 1995.

RESULTS

139 cases of Kawasaki disease were confirmed. In 1994, the annual incidence was 3.7/100,000 children < 5 years old. Sixteen children were not admitted to hospital. Coronary artery abnormalities were reported in 35 (25%) children. Two patients were diagnosed at postmortem examination. Sixty six per cent of patients were diagnosed within 10 days of onset and 81% of these received intravenous gammaglobulin within 10 days. Forty five of the notified children did not fulfil the study criteria because of streptococcal infection or insufficient clinical criteria. One child with streptococcal infection had coronary artery dilatation.

CONCLUSION

Diagnosis of Kawasaki disease was delayed beyond 10 days in one third of patients, and almost 20% of children who could have received gammaglobulin within 10 days did not. The distinction between Kawasaki disease, streptococcal infection, and other possible diagnoses is problematic in some children.