Responsible Genetic Factors for Vasculitis in Kawasaki Disease

摘要: Kawasaki disease (KD) is an acute febrile illness of early childhood that characterized by high fever, bilateral conjunctivitis, redness the oral mucosa, polymorphous skin rash, indurative edema hands and feet, cervical lymphadenopathy (Kawasaki, 1967). The major pathological lesion KD vasculitis small medium-sized arteries (Amano et al., 1979). coronary are most severely affected artery lesions (CALs) occur in 15–25% untreated patients (Kato 1975), making a leading cause acquired heart developed countries. fact peak incidence at 9–11 months age, which coincides with waning maternal immunity, indicates infections could contribute to pathogenesis KD. However, despite more than 40 years intensive research, causative microorganism remains unknown. On other hand, epidemiological studies have revealed significant role genetic components host susceptibility pathogenesis.