Pathogenesis, Clinical Findings and Treatment Advances in Kawasaki Disease

Kawasaki disease (KD) is the second most common vasculitis in pediatrics after Henoch-Schonlein purpura and the first cause of acquired heart disease in developed countries. It is still a major cause of morbidity, and if unrecognized can have life-threatening consequences. Ischemic heart disease in young adults has been linked to previous KD in infancy, and early recognition is paramount to initiate prompt and effective treatment. Nowadays standard therapy (IVIG) exists, but for resistant cases, new drugs have been tried, with promising results. Research is focused on finding new treatment targets, elucidating disease pathogenesis, and evaluate which of the new treatments proposed is more effective.

The goal of this Research Topic is to collect information from all interested physicians and scientists on the different aspects related to KD. We hope to gather new data on disease pathogenesis, have new information on different clinical phenotypes, and advance in knowledge related to the medical treatments used worldwide. The inclusion of submissions from different parts of the world will hopefully help in deepening knowledge on genetic predisposition to the disease and its complications, namely coronary artery lesions. General pediatricians, pediatric cardiologists, infectious disease specialists, pediatric immunologists, and rheumatologists will be invited to submit manuscripts.

All studies and manuscripts related to Kawasaki disease will be considered, starting from etiopathogenesis up to clinical findings and new treatments as well. Speakers and abstract presenters at the 1st Euro-KiDs meeting (Paris, Jan 2021) will also be invited to submit articles related to their presentation. Case series, original research articles, and reviews will all be welcome.