Kawasaki disease may lead to which complication that can rupture or thrombose, causing myocardial infarction?

Kawasaki disease may lead to which complication that can rupture or thrombose, causing myocardial infarction?

• A. Pulmonary embolism
• B. Renal infarction
• C. Aortic dissection
• D. Coronary artery aneurysms

Answer: (D)

Kawasaki disease can inflame and weaken the walls of coronary arteries, leading to the formation of coronary artery aneurysms. These aneurysms disturb normal blood flow, promoting thrombus formation within the dilated vessel. A clot can then obstruct blood flow to the heart muscle, causing a myocardial infarction. In some cases, rupture of an aneurysm can also precipitate acute ischemia or sudden MI-like events. This is why coronary artery involvement is the major serious complication of Kawasaki disease. Other options don’t fit this specific pattern: pulmonary embolism involves the lungs from venous clots, renal infarction would require occlusion of a renal artery, and aortic dissection is uncommon in children and not a typical Kawasaki complication.

Kawasaki disease can inflame and weaken the walls of coronary arteries, leading to the formation of coronary artery aneurysms. These aneurysms disturb normal blood flow, promoting thrombus formation within the dilated vessel. A clot can then obstruct blood flow to the heart muscle, causing a myocardial infarction. In some cases, rupture of an aneurysm can also precipitate acute ischemia or sudden MI-like events. This is why coronary artery involvement is the major serious complication of Kawasaki disease.

Other options don’t fit this specific pattern: pulmonary embolism involves the lungs from venous clots, renal infarction would require occlusion of a renal artery, and aortic dissection is uncommon in children and not a typical Kawasaki complication.