Renal Manifestations and Imaging Studies of Kawasaki Disease

Purpose: The aim of this study was to verify renal inflammation following Kawasaki disease (KD) using single photon emission computed tomography along with Technetium-99m dimercaptosuccinic acid scintigraphy (DMSA renal SPECT).\n\nMethods: From March 2011 to October 2011, 15 patients diagnosed with KD at the National Health Insurance System Ilsan Hospital were enrolled in the study. All patients underwent DMSA renal SPECT to evaluate renal involvement during the acute phase of KD. Urine 棺2-microglobulin (棺2-MG), a marker of renal proximal tubular dysfunction, was also measured to assess renal damage.\n\nResults : All 15 patients had normal renal function test results. However, microscopic hematuria and pyuria were observed in 13% and 33% of the patients, respectively. Moreover, urine 棺2-MG was elevated in 46% of the patients. In addition, patients were divided into two groups based on 棺2-MG level: those with an increased 棺2-MG level, and those with a normal 棺2-MG level. No significant differences were found between these two groups in clinical characteristics, laboratory, sonography, and echocardiography findings. All patients' DMSA renal SPECT scans were normal.\n\nConclusion : Our study showed that mild abnormalities in the urinalysis and elevated urine 棺2-MG were the only findings of renal involvement in KD. However, no aggressive renal manifestations were detected on DMSA renal SPECT.