The prevalence of Kawasaki myocarditis in the acute phase is thought to be nearly 100%, and its detection may be helpful to the early diagnosis of Kawasaki disease. This study was performed to survey echocardiographic functional study items, effective for the differentiation of Kawasaki myocarditis patients from normal children.

We studied 18 children treated at our hospital between Feb 2001 and Jul 2001. Nine typical Kawasaki patients (patient group) and 9 normal children (control group) are included.

The male to female ratio of the respective groups were 6:3 (patients group), and 4:5 (control group). The mean ages (2.4±1.3 years vs. 3.4±2.1 years) and mean body weights (14.4±3.7 kg vs. 15.7±6.6 kg) did not differ significantly between two groups. The mean values of propagation velocity (Vp) via left ventricular inflow Color M-mode Doppler were significantly different between the two groups (51.8±14.6 cm/sec in patients group vs. 66.4±9.1 cm/sec in control group, p=0.0304). No other echocardiographic functional values were significantly different across the two groups. In the patients group, seven children (77.8%) had carditis-suggesting 2D-echocardiographic findings (dilated left ventricle, pericardial effusion, mitral regurgitation) and/or abnormally decreased Vp (<55 cm/sec).

We verified the mean difference of Vp between Kawasaki patients and normal children. Additionally, the detection rate of Kawasaki myocarditis in the acute phase appears to be increased through the adding of Vp values to 2D-echocardiogram results.