Although intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) therapy is the standard therapy for Kawasaki disease (KD) to prevent coronary aneurysms including dilatations, it is unclear whether early IVIG therapy is more efficient in the acute stage of KD.
We conducted a cohort study using data from the 22nd nationwide survey of KD in Japan from January 2011 to December 2012. We excluded patients with recurrent KD and whose first admission day was later than seven days from the onset of symptoms. Finally, 20,933 patients with echocardiography assessment and IVIG therapy were divided into three groups according to the start of the IVIG therapy: 1) early: ≤4 days, 2) conventional: 5-7 days, and 3) late: 8-10 days. Then we investigated whether the early IVIG therapy prevented coronary dilatation or aneurysm after multiple adjustments for age, sex, total amount of IVIG, use of steroids, infliximab, other immunosuppressive agents, and plasma exchange.
After multiple adjustments, conventional therapy had similar risks for coronary dilatation or aneurysm compared with early therapy (odds ratio [OR]:0.95; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.78-1.16), whereas late therapy had a higher risk (OR:1.66; 95% CI, 1.03-2.68). Other risk factors for coronary dilatation or aneurysm were young male, older age, use of steroids, infliximab, other immunosuppressive agents, and a larger amount of total IVIG.
Early IVIG therapy for KD did not reduce the risk for coronary dilatation or aneurysm compared with conventional therapy. It is recommended to start IVIG therapy within 7 days from the onset of symptoms.