Prediction of Repeated Intravenous Immunoglobulin Resistance in Children With Kawasaki Disease

Abstract

Background: Repeated intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) resistance prediction is one of the pivotal topics in Kawasaki disease (KD). Those non-responders of repeated IVIG treatment might be improved by an early-intensified therapy to reduce coronary artery lesion and medical costs. This study investigated predictors of resistance to repeated IVIG treatment in KD.Methods: A total of 94 children with IVIG-resistant KD treated at our hospital between January 2016 and August 2020 were retrospectively analyzed. According to the therapeutic effect of a second dose IVIG treatment, the children were divided into repeated IVIG-responsive group and repeated IVIG-resistant group, and the clinical and laboratory data were compared. Predictors of repeated IVIG resistance and the optimal cut-off value were determined by multiple logistic regression analysis and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis.Results: The laboratory data of the percentage of neutrophils (N%) and levels of serum procalcitonin (PCT), N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) on admission were significantly higher in repeated IVIG-resistant group compared with repeated IVIG-responsive group, while levels of serum sodium (Na+) and albumin (ALB) were significantly lower (P<0.05). The clinic data showed no significant differences between the two groups. PCT exhibited the largest AUC (0.751) in predicting repeated IVIG resistance in KD compared with N%, Na+, ALB, and NT-proBNP. PCT>1.81ng/ml was an independent predictor of repeated IVIG resistance in KD (OR 4.161, 95% CI 1.441~12.017, P=0.008). Conclusions: Our study illustrates the serum PCT level before initial IVIG treatment could be used to predict repeated IVIG resistance in KD.