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Incomplete and atypical Kawasaki disease in a young infant: severe, recalcitrant disease responsive to infliximab.

O'connor MJ, Saulsbury FT

Department of Pediatrics, University of Virginia Health System, Charlottesville, Virginia 22908, USA.

This report describes a 7-week-old infant with incomplete and atypical Kawasaki disease, an acute vasculitis that predominantly affects infants and children. The patient was refractory to 2 doses of intravenous immunoglobulin and to high-dose intravenous methylprednisolone. He became afebrile only after 2 doses of infliximab. His prolonged, recalcitrant course was complicated by the development of peripheral gangrene and giant coronary artery aneurysms. Infants with incomplete and atypical Kawasaki disease are prone to intravenous immunoglobulin treatment failure and are at risk for the development of coronary artery aneurysms. In such patients, we suggest that consideration be given to early aggressive therapy with corticosteroids or infliximab added to intravenous immunoglobulin.

Published 3 May 2007 in Clin Pediatr (Phila), 46(4): 345-8.
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