Platelet Activation Dynamics in Kawasaki Disease– Revisited

Excerpt

Kawasaki Disease (KD) is an acute febrile vasculitic illness of children that has a predilection for the coronary arteries. Inflammation of coronary vessel walls in KD can lead to development of coronary artery abnormalities (CAAs) in approximately 15–25% of patients who do not receive timely treatment [1]. Damage to coronary vascular endothelium may result in activation of platelets that sets up a cascade of further vascular damage. This may result in calcification and premature atherosclerosis of coronary arteries that has been documented in long-term follow-up studies of KD [1]. It remains conjectural whether aspirin therapy in children with KD can mitigate some of these changes. There is paucity of data on platelet activation in KD [2]. …