Pulse methylprednisolone with gammaglobulin as an initial treatment for acute Kawasaki disease

Approximately 15–20% of patients with Kawasaki disease (KD) are not responsive to high-dose intravenous gammaglobulin (IVIG). We have previously reported a predictive method for identifying IVIG-non-responsive patients (high-risk KD patients). We determined the safety and effectiveness of pulse methylprednisolone with high-dose IVIG (mPSL+IVIG) as a primary treatment for high-risk KD patients. Sixty-two high-risk KD patients were treated with pulse methylprednisolone 30 mg/kg over 2 h, followed by IVIG 2 g/kg over 24 h (mPSL+IVIG group) and were compared with a historical control group of 32 high-risk patients treated with IVIG 2 g/kg alone at the participating hospitals before this study was opened (IVIG group). High-risk patients were identified with at least two of three predictors (C-reactive protein ≥7 mg/dL, total bilirubin ≥0.9 mg/dL or aspartate aminotransferase ≥200 IU/L). Sixty-six percent (95% confidence interval [CI] 54–78%) of patients had a prompt defervescence in the mPSL+IVIG group compared with 44% (95% CI 26–62%) for the IVIG group (p = 0.048). Coronary artery lesions were observed in 24.2% (95% CI 13.2–35.2%) and 46.9% (95% CI 28.6–65.2%) of patients in the mPSL+IVIG and IVIG groups, respectively (p = 0.025). This is the first report showing that mPSL+IVIG is effective and safe as a primary treatment for high-risk KD patients.