Effect of Initial Corticosteroid Therapy on Coronary Artery Aneurysm Formation in Kawasaki Disease: A Meta-analysis of 862 Children

Abstract

Objective. Kawasaki disease is an acute vasculitis of infancy and childhood. When untreated, 15% to 25% of patients develop coronary artery aneurysms. Although the use of aspirin and intravenous immune globulin (IVIG) as initial therapy is well established, the role of corticosteroids is uncertain. The objective of this study was to identify clinical trials that compared the rate of coronary aneurysm formation after initial therapy with corticosteroids or an appropriate control and to determine the overall efficacy of corticosteroid therapy for the initial treatment of Kawasaki disease.