Kawasaki Disease

From an 8 year old child with Kawasaki disease, this aneurysmally dilated epicardial coronary artery is occluded by thrombus.

Kawasaki disease affects young children, most often in late winter or spring. The patients are likely to have a rash and mucous membrane involvement with dry lips, an inflamed pharynx, and conjunctivitis. There is a self-limited acute vasculitis. As the symptoms are subsiding, 20% will go on to develop coronary artery aneurysms. Thrombosis in the aneurysmal vessels can result in myocardial infarction and sudden death.