Pathogénie de la maladie de Kawasaki : quoi de neuf ?

Kawasaki disease is an acute vasculitis, which occurs most commonly in infants and toddlers. It is self-limited but prognosis depends on the development of coronary abnormalities. The aetiology is unknown, but recent research has shed some light on its pathogenesis. Epidemiologic data and clinical presentation suggest that it might be a bacterial or viral infection, but attempts to demonstrate a specific pathogen have failed so far. The possibility that a superantigen-driven process might take place in this disorder has been advocated by several groups. Ethnic preference for Asian populations and early age predilection all support a genetic predisposition. Immunological abnormalities of different kinds have also been demonstrated; therefore the current concept is that an immune-mediated pathogenesis in a genetically predisposed individual could be responsible for the disease development.