All issues > Volume 52(8); 2009

Original Article

Korean J Pediatr. 2009;52(8):930-937. Published online August 15, 2009.

Comparison and analysis of the effectiveness to high dose of aspirin and ibuprofen in acute phase of Kawasaki disease

Seung-woon Sw Keum¹, Yeon Kyun YK Oh¹, Jong Duck JD Kim¹, Seung-taek St Yu¹

¹Departments of Pediatrics, Wonkwang University College of Medicine, Iksan, Korea

Correspondence Seung-taek St Yu ,Email: yudoc@wonkwang.ac.kr

Abstract

Purpose
We evaluated the effectiveness of treatment and cardiac complications of replacing a high dose of aspirin with a high dose of ibuprofen for children in acute phase of Kawasaki disease. We also analyzed the possibility of replacing a high dose of aspirin with a high dose of ibuprofen to prevent complications such as Reye s syndrome caused by aspirin.
Methods
One hundred eight children with Kawasaki disease were admitted in the pediatrics department from January 1, 2004 to December 31, 2008. Echocardiography and laboratory tests were performed during diagnosis, and the children were followed-up at 6-8 weeks after the diagnosis. We retrospectively analyzed their characteristics and clinical results.
Results
The children were assigned to receive either a high dose of aspirin with intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) (aspirin group) or a high dose of ibuprofen with IVIG (ibuprofen group). A total of 55 and 53 children were included in the aspirin and ibuprofen groups, respectively. The mean defervescence period was 6.5¡¾2.1 days in the aspirin group, and 6.9¡¾1.9 days in the ibuprofen group (P=0.309). The number of failed treatments, during and after treatment, was 8 in the aspirin group and 10 in the ibuprofen group (P=0.547). There were 11 initial cardiac complications in the aspirin group, and 14 in the ibuprofen group, but children who showed improvement at follow-up was 7 and 13 in the aspirin and ibuprofen groups, respectively (P= 0.133). Laboratory findings were also improved in both groups.
Conclusion
We can be considered whether we will replace high dose of aspirin by high dose of ibuprofen in acute phase of Kawasaki disease. Therefore, we can prevent the severe complications of aspirin use, such as Reye s syndrome.

Keywords :Mucocutaneous Lymph Node Syndrome, Aspirin, Ibuprofen