Etiology and pathogenesis of coronary artery lesions in Kawasaki disease

Abstract

Kawasaki disease (KD),also known as mucocutaneous lymph node syndrome,is an acute febrile rash illness with systemic small and medium vessel vasculitis in children.The long-term prognosis of KD is mainly determined by its cardiovascular complications,especially coronary artery lesion(CAL).CAL is harm to children's physical and mental health.Studies have suggested that the incidence of CAL is associated with infection of superantigens,cytomegalovirus and RNA viruses.Gene polymorphisms of costimulatory molecules,cytokines,chemokines,matrix metalloproteinase,inositol triphosphate kinase are also involved in occurance of CAL.Abnormal activation of the immune system,immune cell infiltration in the coronary arteries,coronary endothelial dysfunction,extracellular matrix degradation are the key steps of CAL through KD animal models and coronary artery from children died from KD.This review aims to discuss progress in etiology and pathogenesis of CAL in KD. Key words: Kawasaki disease; Coronary artery lesion; Etiology; Pathogenesis