Abstract

Although the underlying mechanisms by which Kawasaki disease (KD) triggers vasculitis remain unclear, certain stimuli that release inflammatory substances trigger vasculitis during its acute phase, and may continue to cause vascular deterioration in subsequent phases of this disease. Cellular systems responsible for the generation and scavenging of reactive oxygen species (ROS) are clearly involved in the pathogenesis of KD vasculitis. In this manuscript, we discuss studies that illuminate the role of exudative stress in vascular pathology occurring during the acute phase, the interval following the acute phase, and the chronic phase of KD. We also discuss appropriate therapies and the potential role of antioxidant therapy in the treatment and prevention of KD vasculitis. We conclude there is no clear evidence that current antioxidant therapy can prevent the onset of arteriosclerosis and that administering current antioxidant therapy to children with a prior history of KD may not immediately improve prognosis. Future prospects should include research on specifically targeted antioxidant treatments and the development of reliable biomarkers for assessing vascular oxidative stress.