Kawasaki disease continues to present as a diagnostic and therapeutic conundrum for pediatrics. More than 50 years after the first publication by Dr. Tomisaku Kawasaki, the etiology of the most common acquired heart disease in childhood is still a mystery. KD is an acute vasculitis of medium-sized arteries, notably coronaries, of early childhood. If left untreated, it can result in coronary artery dilation, aneurysm formation, coronary thrombosis, and myocardial infarction in children and young adults. Since the SARS-CoV2 pandemic, a new condition named Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in Childhood (MIS-C), sharing clinical and laboratory features with Kawasaki Disease, has been described all around the world. Recent discoveries in basic science have been paramount to advancing our understanding of the genetics, molecular basis, cellular interactions, and pathophysiology of these diseases. Translational and clinical studies have contributed to improving management guidelines with precise diagnostic algorithms and treatment options in Kawasaki disease, while no global consensus has been achieved.
Despite the advancement of our knowledge in many aspects of KD and MIS-C, we still do not know the etiology of the disease, and complications continue to present a therapeutic challenge for clinicians. As a scientific community, we have a perpetual responsibility to advance our knowledge and clinical practice, and ultimately to improve our patients’ quality of life. This is particularly true for Kawasaki disease. Future research and innovation in this field may reveal the etiology of the condition, develop sensitive and specific diagnostic tools for the disorder, better guide us in prognosticating the development of coronary artery lesions and cardiac injury, and reveal effective therapeutic options to prevent coronary artery aneurysms, the more severe forms with systemic shock and the need of high intensity assistance in Intensive Care Unit, and other complications. Our goal is to solicit innovative concepts, novel diagnostic algorithms, therapeutic targets, and clinical management options to improve the care of patients with KD and MIS-C.
The scope of this Research Topic on KD and MIS-C is an attempt to amplify the current knowledge on the nebula of these two conditions. We invite manuscripts that may provide an insight into yet unclear aspects of the pathophysiology; innovative diagnostic methods or algorithms facilitating early recognition of the diseases or accurate prediction of the development of coronary aneurysms and myocardial damage; novel treatment alternatives to shorten the inflammatory state or to decrease or even prevent the development of coronary artery lesions and the extent of inflammatory syndrome; and powerful prognostic tests for short or long-term sequelae. We are also looking for manuscripts that may challenge our current understanding of the diseases, or the established guidelines and treatment algorithms. We are honored to serve as guest editors for this Research Topic on KD and MIS-C and are delighted to invite reports on cutting-edge science in basic, translational, or clinical research areas.
Kawasaki disease continues to present as a diagnostic and therapeutic conundrum for pediatrics. More than 50 years after the first publication by Dr. Tomisaku Kawasaki, the etiology of the most common acquired heart disease in childhood is still a mystery. KD is an acute vasculitis of medium-sized arteries, notably coronaries, of early childhood. If left untreated, it can result in coronary artery dilation, aneurysm formation, coronary thrombosis, and myocardial infarction in children and young adults. Since the SARS-CoV2 pandemic, a new condition named Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in Childhood (MIS-C), sharing clinical and laboratory features with Kawasaki Disease, has been described all around the world. Recent discoveries in basic science have been paramount to advancing our understanding of the genetics, molecular basis, cellular interactions, and pathophysiology of these diseases. Translational and clinical studies have contributed to improving management guidelines with precise diagnostic algorithms and treatment options in Kawasaki disease, while no global consensus has been achieved.
Despite the advancement of our knowledge in many aspects of KD and MIS-C, we still do not know the etiology of the disease, and complications continue to present a therapeutic challenge for clinicians. As a scientific community, we have a perpetual responsibility to advance our knowledge and clinical practice, and ultimately to improve our patients’ quality of life. This is particularly true for Kawasaki disease. Future research and innovation in this field may reveal the etiology of the condition, develop sensitive and specific diagnostic tools for the disorder, better guide us in prognosticating the development of coronary artery lesions and cardiac injury, and reveal effective therapeutic options to prevent coronary artery aneurysms, the more severe forms with systemic shock and the need of high intensity assistance in Intensive Care Unit, and other complications. Our goal is to solicit innovative concepts, novel diagnostic algorithms, therapeutic targets, and clinical management options to improve the care of patients with KD and MIS-C.
The scope of this Research Topic on KD and MIS-C is an attempt to amplify the current knowledge on the nebula of these two conditions. We invite manuscripts that may provide an insight into yet unclear aspects of the pathophysiology; innovative diagnostic methods or algorithms facilitating early recognition of the diseases or accurate prediction of the development of coronary aneurysms and myocardial damage; novel treatment alternatives to shorten the inflammatory state or to decrease or even prevent the development of coronary artery lesions and the extent of inflammatory syndrome; and powerful prognostic tests for short or long-term sequelae. We are also looking for manuscripts that may challenge our current understanding of the diseases, or the established guidelines and treatment algorithms. We are honored to serve as guest editors for this Research Topic on KD and MIS-C and are delighted to invite reports on cutting-edge science in basic, translational, or clinical research areas.