NEW YORK (Reuters Health)—A 13-transcript whole-blood gene expression signature accurately differentiates Kawasaki disease (KD) from other febrile conditions in children, researchers report. “We believe it is feasible to turn the signature into a diagnostic test,” Dr. Michael Levin from Imperial College London, London, tells Reuters Health by email. “There are a range of methods to…
Environmental Factors in Pediatric Systemic Autoimmune Diseases
Systemic autoimmune diseases are thought to result from immune dysregulation in genetically susceptible individuals who were exposed to environmental risk factors. Many studies have identified genetic risk factors for these diseases, but concordance rates among monozygotic twins are 25–40%, suggesting that nonheritable environmental factors play a more prominent role.1,2 Through carefully conducted epidemiologic and other…
Kawasaki Disease Spread May be Linked to Wind
Latest study suggests tropospheric winds from farmlands in northeastern China may carry etiologic agent for KD to the Far East, Western U.S.
Exploring Kawasaki Disease
New epidemiologic data, clinical studies have shed light on diagnosis, treatments, patient outcomes for this childhood disease, but etiology is still unknown
2013 ACR/ARHP Annual Meeting: Diagnostic,Treatment Approaches Evolve for Kawasaki Disease
New data examine infliximab as a treatment option, and updated diagnostic criteria aids physicians in recognizing KD and detecting cardiac involvement in patients
Rheum with a View
Panush’s perspectives on selections from the literature