Korean J Pediatr.  2012 Dec;55(12):470-473.

Detection rate and clinical impact of respiratory viruses in children with Kawasaki disease

• Kim JH
• Yu JJ
• Lee J
• Kim MN
• Ko HK
• Choi HS
• Kim YH
• Ko JK

Abstract

PURPOSE
The purpose of this prospective case-control study was to survey the detection rate of respiratory viruses in children with Kawasaki disease (KD) by using multiplex reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), and to investigate the clinical implications of the prevalence of respiratory viruses during the acute phase of KD.
METHODS
RT-PCR assays were carried out to screen for the presence of respiratory syncytial virus A and B, adenovirus, rhinovirus, parainfluenza viruses 1 to 4, influenza virus A and B, metapneumovirus, bocavirus, coronavirus OC43/229E and NL63, and enterovirus in nasopharyngeal secretions of 55 KD patients and 78 control subjects.
RESULTS
Virus detection rates in KD patients and control subjects were 32.7% and 30.8%, respectively (P=0.811). However, there was no significant association between the presence of any of the 15 viruses and the incidence of KD. Comparisons between the 18 patients with positive RT-PCR results and the other 37 KD patients revealed no significant differences in terms of clinical findings (including the prevalence of incomplete presentation of the disease) and coronary artery diameter.
CONCLUSION
A positive RT-PCR for currently epidemic respiratory viruses should not be used as an evidence against the diagnosis of KD. These viruses were not associated with the incomplete presentation of KD and coronary artery dilatation.

Keyword

Coronary aneurysm; Mucocutaneous lymph node syndrome; Respiratory tract infections; Viruses; Reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction

MeSH Terms

Adenoviridae
Bocavirus
Case-Control Studies
Child
Coronary Aneurysm
Coronary Vessels
Coronavirus
Dilatation
Enterovirus
Humans
Incidence
Metapneumovirus
Mucocutaneous Lymph Node Syndrome
Orthomyxoviridae
Paramyxoviridae Infections
Prevalence
Prospective Studies
Respiratory Syncytial Viruses
Respiratory Tract Infections
Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
Rhinovirus
Viruses