SUDDEN-DEATH CAUSED BY THROMBOSED CORONARY-ARTERY ANEURYSM - 2 UNUSUAL CASES OF KAWASAKI-DISEASE

Kawasaki disease primarily affects children below 5 years of age, and fatal coronary complications usually occur within 6-12 months followin g the acute illness. We report 2 unusual fatal cases of thrombosed cor onary artery aneurysms. The first case was an 11-year-old boy, who die d suddenly 2 months after the acute illness. He had a classical clinic al picture, but was misdiagnosed. The second case was a 29-year-old ma n without history of recent febrile episodes or cardiac symptoms. Both subjects fulfilled the stage 4 criteria of Kawasaki disease (healing stage) with extensive old myocardial damage. The cases illustrate the great variation in the clinical picture of Kawasaki disease. Teenagers can also be affected, and extensive myocardial damage may be asymptom atic for many years.