Study Finds Single Respiratory Virus May Cause Kawasaki Disease
New research from the Stanley Manne Children’s Research Institute at Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago suggests that a single, unidentified respiratory virus may be the cause of Kawasaki disease. This discovery challenges the previous belief that multiple pathogens or toxins could cause the disease, which can lead to serious heart problems in children.
1.Kawasaki Disease Mystery Solved?
For over 50 years, the cause of Kawasaki disease has remained unclear. Anne Rowley, MD, a pediatric expert at Lurie Children’s, is the lead author of this study, which was published in Laboratory Investigation. She believes the findings are a major breakthrough. “Our data gives a clear direction to find the virus that causes Kawasaki disease. Identifying it will help improve diagnosis, treatment, and prevention,” Rowley explained.
2.What is Kawasaki Disease?
Kawasaki disease is a rare condition, mostly affecting children between the ages of 6 months and 5 years. At Lurie Children’s Hospital, 50-60 new cases are diagnosed each year. The disease can lead to heart problems, with infants being at a higher risk. Currently, there is no test to diagnose Kawasaki disease. Its symptoms include fever, rash, swelling of the hands and feet, red eyes, swollen lymph nodes, and mouth irritation.
3.Current Treatment and Risks
Although the disease is serious, standard treatments like intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) and aspirin significantly reduce the risk of heart disease. However, some high-risk patients may also need steroids. Kawasaki disease gives children a 20% chance of developing heart disease, with infants having a 50% chance of heart complications.
4.New Findings from the Study
In the study, Dr. Rowley and her team used blood samples from children with Kawasaki disease. They prepared antibodies to see what these antibodies would target in tissue samples of patients who died from the disease. Their results were surprising. The antibodies found inclusion bodies in every tissue sample, which are by-products of a virus. These samples came from the U.S. and Japan, spanning 50 years.
5.What Does This Mean?
The inclusion bodies were found in medium-sized airways, suggesting that the cause of Kawasaki disease may be a respiratory virus. Dr. Rowley emphasized the importance of continuing research to study these inclusion bodies. “We need to learn what is inside them so we can identify the virus and finally solve the mystery of Kawasaki disease,” she said.
6.Conclusion and Future Research
This study is an important step toward understanding Kawasaki disease. With further research, doctors hope to find the virus behind the disease and improve ways to treat and prevent it. Dr. Rowley’s team was supported by several organizations, including the National Institutes of Health (NIH).
Dr. Rowley, who is also a professor at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, holds a special professorship in immunobiology at Lurie Children’s.
Source:Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago
Date:Mar 27 2025
