Current Research Studies - UCSD Kawasaki Disease Research.
Kawasaki disease (also known as lymph node syndrome, mucocutaneous node disease, infantile polyarteritis and Kawasaki syndrome) is a disease, largely of infants, which affects many organs.
Recent research reported that matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) is involved in formation of CAA in acute phase of Kawasaki disease patients2. From research, the level of MMP-9 in serum who have Kawasaki disease have much higher than serum from children who does not have KD and patients who have other kinds of febrile diseases2. Using MMP-9 inhibitors might prevent the formation of CAA.
The most exciting research on the cause of Kawasaki disease is in the laboratory of Anne Rowley, MD, where her research uses highly sophisticated tools of molecular biology. Dr. Rowley and colleagues have shown that there is a strong IgA immune response in children with Kawasaki disease. Using molecular immunology and studies with the high-powered electron microscope, her team has shown that.
Kawasaki Disease mostly strikes children under the age of 5, initially manifesting itself with three or more symptoms and in many cases, this disease could cause serious damage to the heart (usually in the form of aneurysms caused by inflammation of the coronary arteries of the heart). Kawasaki Disease is now known to be the leading cause of coronary heart disease in children that affects.
Kawasaki disease is an acute vasculitis with a particular involvement of the coronary arteries. Coronary artery aneurysms develop in 20% of untreated children. It has been shown that early treatment with intravenous immunoglobulins and aspirin decreases this risk to 5%, but the medium to long term prognosis of children with Kawasaki disease is still unclear.
Research. Question, Understand, Improve. Here in Canada and around the world, researchers are working to uncover the causes of Kawasaki disease, investigate its mechanisms, develop diagnostic tools, understand aneurysms, analyze the risk of blood clot formation, help families of children living with long-term consequences of Kawasaki disease, discover ways to encourage parents and health care.
Diagnostic guidelines for Kawasaki Disease have not been revised in Japan since 1984. There have been several progressions during these 18 years concerning the management of Kawasaki Disease. A subcommittee for the revision of the diagnostic guidelines was organized through the Kawasaki Disease Research Committee to meet the present situation.