AUTHOR=Suzuki Takayuki , Kitano Naomi , Kakimoto Nobuyuki , Suenaga Tomohiro , Shibuta Shoichi , Takeuchi Takashi , Suzuki Hiroyuki , Abe Kota , Yasukawa Kumi , Okunushi Kentaro , Hamada Hiromichi , Tokuhara Daisuke 

TITLE=A prediction model for post-treatment presence of coronary artery abnormality before initial treatment in Kawasaki disease in Japan

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Pediatrics

VOLUME=Volume 13 - 2025

YEAR=2025

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/pediatrics/articles/10.3389/fped.2025.1647195

DOI=10.3389/fped.2025.1647195

ISSN=2296-2360

ABSTRACT=BackgroundThis study aimed to develop and validate a predictive model for the presence of coronary artery abnormality (CAA) after treatment using pre-treatment clinical and laboratory parameters, including coronary Z-scores, in Japanese patients with Kawasaki disease (KD).Method and resultsA retrospective multicenter cohort study was conducted, analyzing 1,565 patients diagnosed with KD across eight medical institutions within the Wakayama Kawasaki Disease Clinical Research Group, with validation performed at Chiba University and Tokyo Women's Medical University. A predictive model was developed using data from a primary cohort (n = 970) and validated in both internal (n = 333) and external (n = 262) cohorts. Multivariate analysis identified three predictors of post-treatment CAA presence: maximum pre-treatment Z-score ≥1.6 (2 points), albumin level ≤3.1 g/dL (1 point), and age ≤12 months (1 point). A total score of ≥2 predicted CAA with 84.2% sensitivity and 60.8% specificity in the development cohort, with similar performance validated in the internal and external cohorts (area under the receiver operating characteristic curve: both 0.88).ConclusionsThe developed model accurately predicts post-treatment CAA presence, emphasizing the importance of early coronary Z-score assessment. It could guide intensive initial therapies to reduce CAA incidence, supporting KD management. However, further validation in diverse populations is recommended.