European consensus-based recommendations for the diagnosis and treatment of Kawasaki Disease – the SHARE initiative

Nienke de Graeff1,*, Noortje Groot1,2,3,*, Seza Ozen4, Despina Eleftheriou5,Tadej Avcin6, Brigitte Bader-Meunier7, Pavla Dolezalova8, Brian M. Feldman9,Isabelle Kone-Paut10, Pekka Lahdenne11, Liza McCann3, Clarissa Pilkington5,Angelo Ravelli12, Annet van Royen-Kerkhof1, Yosef Uziel13, Bas Vastert1,Nico Wulffraat1, Sylvia Kamphuis2, Paul Brogan5,yandMichael W. Beresford

April 2019

The European Single Hub and Access point for paediatric Rheumatology in Europe initiative aimed to optimize care for children with rheumatic diseases. Kawasaki Disease is the most common cause of acquired heart disease in children and an important cause of long-term cardiac disease into adulthood. Prompt diagnosis and treatment of Kawasaki Disease is difficult due to the heterogeneity of the disease but is crucial for improving outcome. To date, there are no European internationally agreed, evidence-based guidelines concerning the diagnosis and treatment of Kawasaki Disease in children. Accordingly, treatment regimens differ widely. The aim of this study is to provide consensus-based, European-wide evidence-informed recommendations for diagnosis and treatment of children with Kawasaki Disease.