Insertion/Deletion Polymorphism of Angiotensin Converting Enzyme Gene in Kawasaki Disease

Shim, Yoon Hee; Kim, Hae Soon; Sohn, Sejung; Hong, Young Mi

Fifty five Kawasaki patients (mean age 28.2±25.2 months) diagnosed at Ewha Womans University Mokdong Hospital from January 2001 to June 2003, and 43 healthy children (mean age 28.5±17.2 months) were enrolled. Kawasaki disease was diagnosed by its clinical features, that is fever lasting for at least 5 days, accompanied by 4 of the 5 classical signs: 1) bilateral bulbar conjunctival injection; 2) pharynx, injected and/or dry fissured lips, strawberry tongue; 3) changes of the peripheral extremities in the acute phase or periungal desquamation in the subacute phase; 4) nonvesicular rash; 5) cervical adenopathy, ≥1.5 cm. The diagnosis was made if he/she had typical manifestations even before less than 5 febrile days of illness. All patients were treated with immunoglobulin (2 g/kg) on the day of diagnosis. High dose (50 mg/kg/day) aspirin was given from the day of diagnosis and its dosage was changed to 5 mg/kg/day after 2 nonfebrile consecutive days.