Giant coronary artery aneurysm caused by Kawasaki disease observed by coronary angiography

Abstract

Objective To observe the mid- and long-term changes of giant coronary artery aneurysm(GCAA) caused by Kawasaki disease(KD) and to provide preventive basis for cardiac accidents of KD-affected adolescents. Methods Twelve cases of KD with GCAA [10 boys, 2 girls; 1-10 years old; mean age: (4.05±2.50) years old] were followed up by coronary angiography (CAG), echocardiography and electrocardiogram for 2-10 years to and the changes of the coronary artery lesion were analyzed. Results The findings showed that 2 cases were single coronary artery aneurysm and 10 cases had multiple coronary artery aneurysms on both sides by echocardiography.Among them 8 cases showed segmental stenosis in the right coronary artery with varying degrees by coronary angiography, including 3 cases with coronary recanalization after right coronary artery complete occlusion, 4 cases with segmental local stenosis, and 1 case with thrombotic occlusion and tufted neovascularization.And in 9 cases of coronary artery aneurysms were still present after treatment, and among them the blood flow filling in 4 cases was slowing down in the left anterior descending arteries.Only 1 case with coronary artery aneurysms on both sides became expanded mildly, without stenosis or other lesions.In this observation, all of the cases had no symptoms or any activity limitation.One case was found pathologic Q wave and the other 11 cases left normal by resting electrocardiogram.The results of resting electrocardiogram in 11 cases were normal by pharmacologic stress electrocardiogram except that 1 case showed multi-lead S-T segment depression and T wave flat.Compared with coronary angiography in the same period, 12 cases showed proximal morphological changes in coronary artery and 5 cases with wall motion abnormalities by echocardiography.This study showed that echocardiography was not sensitive enough for mid- and distal-stenosis examination because it failed to provide any useful information for 4 cases affected by segmental stenosis and neovascularization. Conclusions The GCAA caused by KD will be lasting for a long time after acute stage, including persisting GCAA, recovering GCAA, occlusion, stenosis and neovascularization.The sensitivity of echocardiography and electrocardiogram are not enough to find coronary morphology and function of KD sequelae damages.CAG is important for follow-up observations of KD with GCAA. Key words: Kawasaki disease; Giant coronary artery aneurysm; Coronary angiography; Follow-up