Publication:

Comparison of clinico-haematological and echocardiographic features at diagnosis between complete and incomplete Kawasaki disease: a 12-years single centered experience from a tertiary care referral center of Bangladesh

Background Kawasaki disease (KD) is the most common cause of acquired heart disease in childhood with coronary artery abnormalities among 15-25% of cases. This study aimed to compare the clinico-haematological profile and initial echocardiographic changes of coronary arteries among complete and incomplete KD patients admitted in a tertiary care center in Bangladesh.

Methods This was a retrospective study of 66 children diagnosed with KD admitted in the Department of Paediatrics from July 2010 to March 2023 at Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU), Bangladesh.

Results In our study, 51.5% patients had complete KD while 48.5% had incomplete KD. Children with incomplete KD (9.23±4.74 days) had a longer-lasting fever in comparison to complete KD patients (7.36±3.21 days). All the typical clinical symptoms of KD were observed significantly less frequently in children with incomplete KD. Laboratory findings between the two groups showed no significant differences. We observed that children with incomplete KD had significantly higher frequency of abnormal coronary artery at diagnosis (67.7%) in comparison to children with complete KD (34.3%). Here, children with incomplete KD had significantly higher frequency of at least one coronary artery aneurysm and mild coronary artery aneurysms in relation to complete KD patients.

Conclusions All the typical clinical symptoms of KD were observed significantly less frequently along with longer dutration of fever in children with incomplete KD. Laboratory findings between the two groups showed no significant differences. Children with incomplete KD had significantly higher frequency of abnormal coronary artery at diagnosis in comparison to complete KD patients.