Kawasaki disease and juvenile idiopathic arthritis are both systemic inflammatory diseases, and recent research has shown that they share the biological markers interleukin-1β and -6—raising the question of whether having Kawasaki disease in turn increases the risk of juvenile idiopathic arthritis. In a report published in Frontiers in Immunology, Liao et al found that the risk of developing juvenile idiopathic arthritis was about twofold higher in patients with vs without Kawasaki disease regardless of sex, comorbidities, age, or level of urbanization of residence. The authors concluded, “When caring for a child with Kawasaki disease, the clinician should be aware of the possibility that other systemic inflammatory disorders, such as juvenile idiopathic arthritis, can develop in the future. The pathophysiological association between Kawasaki disease and juvenile idiopathic arthritis requires further study.”
May 25, 2023