Steroids can help Children with Kawasaki’s disease for minimizing risk of Heart Damage

According to a recent Pediatrics Study, steroids have the ability to considerable minimize the risk of heart damage development in children with Kawasaki's disease.

The study tend to address a gap of knowledge as the present guidelines from the American Academy of Pediatrics suggest that aspirin and intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) constitute the standard treatment to help children with Kawasaki's disease fight against it.

Stephen Aronoff, MD, lead author of the meta-analysis and Temple University School of Medicine professor and chair of Pediatrics, remarked that his and his team's motivation was positively influenced by this knowledge gap. He also remarked that the gap also encouraged him and his team to examine the benefits of steroids.

Aronoff also remarked that a combination of steroids along with intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) can considerably reduce the developing odds of inflammation of the blood vessels.

From Redorbit.com:

"This gap in knowledge led us to examine the benefits of steroids more closely. We looked at research worldwide and were surprised to find eight solid clinical trials showing the value of steroids in significantly reducing heart damage in children with Kawasaki's disease. Steroids, when combined with aspirin and IVGB, reduced the odds of developing inflammation of the heart blood vessels by half," said Stephen Aronoff, MD, lead author of the meta-analysis and Temple University School of Medicine professor and chair of pediatrics.

Aronoff hopes that a multi-center study, currently underway, will provide further evidence of the benefits of steroid treatment for Kawasaki's disease. Also needed is more evidence about the most effective types and doses of steroids.

Kawasaki's disease is primarily responsible for inflaming the vessels of the blood leading to the heart. The disease is believed to be one of the leading causes of acquired heart ailments in the young age group. It is important to note that the Kawasaki's disease can become a life-threatening and complicated ailment if left untreated for more than 5-10 days.