Kawasaki disease (KD) is an inflammatory disease primarily affecting infants and young children, whose etiology remains uncertain. Observational studies of the overlap between KD outbreaks and seasonal peaks of arboviral infections, suggest the possible role of these pathogens as triggers of KD. In Venezuela, regions with the highest reported arboviral infections simultaneously have the highest incidence of KD. One proposed explanation for this association involves the role of proinflammatory mediators, interleukin-1 (IL-1), IL-6, tumor necrosis factor, and vascular endothelial growth factor as mediators of coronary endothelial damage. The promotion of inflammation and tissue destruction by these cytokines is thought to contribute to the coronary endothelial damage experienced in KD. The utilization of overlapping KD and arboviral infection trends contribute to the comprehension of KD etiology, with improvements in diagnosis, prognosis and treatment.

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TitleKawasaki disease seasonality in Venezuela supports an arbovirus infection trigger.
DateDecember 1st, 2020
Issue nameJournal of medical virology
Issue numberv92.12:2903-2910
DOI10.1002/jmv.26381
PubMed32740967
AuthorsPaniz-Mondolfi AE, van den Akker T, Márquez-Colmenarez MC, Delgado-Noguera LA, Valderrama O & Sordillo EM
KeywordsDENV, Kawasaki disease, Venezuela, arboviruses, seasonality
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