Published online by Cambridge University Press: 19 August 2008
There are a number of abnormalities of the immune system seen in children with Kawasaki disease that are widely integrated and lead eventually to the inflammatory response seen clinically as fever, rash, arthritis, coronary arteritis, etc. The initiating event remains a mystery, however the cascade of immune responses involves both T and B lymphocytes, lymphokine production, and cell adhesion. Until the etiologic agent(s)/ of Kawasaki disease is identified, therapeutic intervention must be directed at controlling the effects of the abnormal immunoregulation.