Infliximab as a novel therapy for refractory Kawasaki disease

J Rheumatol. 2004 Apr;31(4):808-10.

Abstract

Kawasaki disease (KD) is a multisystem vasculitis of unknown etiology, with coronary artery aneurysms occurring in 25% of untreated cases. With conventional treatment of intravenous immunoglobulin (i.v.IG) and high dose aspirin (ASA) only 4% of patients develop coronary artery aneurysms. Children who are unresponsive present a challenge. Tumor necrosis factor-alpha levels peak during the acute and subacute phase of KD, especially in children who develop coronary artery aneurysms. We describe a 3-year-old male with KD and giant coronary artery aneurysms, unresponsive to multiple doses of i.v.IG and methylprednisolone, who was treated with infliximab. After the first dose he defervesced and his laboratory measures improved.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Antibodies, Monoclonal / therapeutic use*
  • Child, Preschool
  • Coronary Aneurysm / drug therapy
  • Coronary Aneurysm / etiology
  • Coronary Aneurysm / pathology
  • Echocardiography
  • Humans
  • Immunoglobulins, Intravenous / therapeutic use
  • Infliximab
  • Male
  • Methylprednisolone / therapeutic use
  • Mucocutaneous Lymph Node Syndrome / complications
  • Mucocutaneous Lymph Node Syndrome / drug therapy*
  • Mucocutaneous Lymph Node Syndrome / pathology
  • Treatment Failure
  • Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / therapeutic use*

Substances

  • Antibodies, Monoclonal
  • Immunoglobulins, Intravenous
  • Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha
  • Infliximab
  • Methylprednisolone