A patient with Kawasaki Disease may suffer sudden death related to the vasculitis affecting a vital organ.
Most cases of Kawasaki disease involve pediatric patients, but young adults may also be affected.
Kawasaki Disease is a relatively common childhood vasculitis that affects medium-size arteries such as the coronary arteries.
Causes of sudden death may include:
(1) rupture of a coronary artery aneurysm with or without tamponade
(2) coronary vascular thrombosis with acute myocardial infarction
(3) cardiac arrhythmia
(4) Kawasaki disease shock syndrome (KDSS)
(5) pancarditis, myocarditis or pericarditis
(6) acute cardiac failure
(7) cerebral hemorrhage
(8) encephalitis
The patient may or may not have a previous history of Kawasaki Disease.
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Specialty: Clinical Laboratory
