The Ninth International Kawasaki Disease Symposium (9th IKDS) was recently held in Taipei, Taiwan. This conference was sponsored by the Taiwan Society of Pediatric Cardiology, Cardiac Children's Foundation of Taiwan, Japan Kawasaki Disease Research Center, and the American Heart Association. 

The first eight international KD symposia alternated between Japan and the USA. It is especially noteworthy that this symposium marks the first time to convene in Taiwan, which emphasizes the global nature of, and global interest in, this disease that affects children worldwide.

It has been 41 years since Dr. Kawasaki's original publication about the disease that now bears his name. Since that time, thousands of papers reflecting the research of KD investigators all over the world have been published. Over the years, much has been learned from those papers and from the many presentations at International KD Symposia regarding epidemiology, pathology, diagnosis, treatment and follow-up of this disease. However, the one thing we all hope to discover — the cause of this disease — remains elusive.

Highlights from the 9th IKDS:

View Abstracts

Epidemiology:
KD attack rates were reported from several countries in Asia, North America and Europe. Attack rates are the highest in Asian countries, and in North America and Europe, attack rates are higher in children of Asian ancestry. Learn More

Genetic Studies:
YT Chen gave a state of the art lecture titled "Genomic medicine to improve patient care and safety". He concluded that an individual's genetic susceptibility to some of the common diseases and abnormal drug responses can be assessed and preventative measures applied.  In particular the markers identified in the severe adverse drug reactions can be used for further development of tests to identify individuals at risk for these drug-related life threatening conditions. Learn More

Pathology/Immunology/Animal Models:
Kajimoto and colleagues reported that plasma prostaglandin E2 activates beta1 integrin on coronary epithelium via EP2 receptor. Learn More

Acute Treatment:
Multiple studies report about 15 percent IVIG resistance to first treatment. Learn More

Cardiac Imaging:
CT scanning is outstanding at showing aneurysms, stenosis, and intimal hypertrophy and coronary wall irregularities, although radiation is a concern. Learn More

Treatment of Cardiac Complications:
PCI can be accomplished and effective and has results almost as good as CABG in short-term although the indications for PCI versus CABG are still uncertain. Continued follow up and registries would be of great importance. Learn More