Making a diagnosis of Kawasaki disease with certainty may be challenging,\r\nespecially since the recognition of cases with incomplete diagnostic criteria and its\r\nconsequences. In order to build the diagnostic case in daily practice, clinicians rely on\r\nclinical criteria established over four decades ago, aided by non specific laboratory tests,\r\nand above all inspired by experience. We have recently studied the diagnostic value of\r\nN-terminal pro B-type natriuretic peptide to improve the diagnostic certainty of cases with\r\ncomplete or incomplete clinical criteria. Our working hypothesis was based on the fact that\r\nmyocarditis is present in nearly all Kawasaki disease patients supported by histology data.\r\nIn this paper, we review these facts and the myocardial perspective from the diagnostic and\r\nthe mechanistic standpoints.
Loading....