Posted: 24 October
Researchers have identified a new way to treat young children with Kawasaki Disease (KD) to prevent life-threatening coronary artery damage and heart attacks.
The WEHI-led study showed that treatment with drugs called mTOR inhibitors can prevent the formation of coronary artery damage and aneurysms, a much-feared complication of KD.
Importantly, mTOR inhibitors are already known to be safe and effective in other clinical uses, meaning this therapy could potentially be trialled rapidly in the clinic for children with KD.
At a glance
- Kawasaki Disease is the leading cause of acquired heart disease in children
- Existing therapies are effective for most but not all patients with KD, and those who develop coronary artery damage and aneurysms are at risk of heart attack
- New study provides compelling pre-clinical evidence that mTOR inhibitors can prevent progression of coronary artery damage
- mTOR inhibitors are already available and have proven safety and efficacy in other clinical uses
KD mainly affects children under five years of age and is the most common cause of acquired heart disease in children in developed countries. Up to 300 Australian children are diagnosed with the disease each year.
The specific cause of KD is unknown, but it is generally accepted that infections with common respiratory viruses, including coronavirus, can trigger the disease.
A key clinical feature of KD is inflammation of blood vessels, particularly the coronary arteries that supply blood to the heart.
When severe, this inflammation can cause ‘remodelling’ of the coronary arteries that lead to narrowing and aneurysms in damaged arteries, where the walls weaken and blow out like a balloon.
