Which therapy is associated with Kawasaki disease to reduce coronary artery aneurysm risk?

• A. Oral antibiotics
• B. Aspirin alone
• C. IVIG therapy
• D. Steroid therapy

Answer: (C)

Kawasaki disease causes inflammation of the blood vessels, especially the coronary arteries, which can lead to coronary artery aneurysms. The therapy that best reduces this risk is high-dose intravenous immunoglobulin given early in the illness (ideally within the first 10 days of fever). IVIG modulates the immune response and dampens the vascular inflammation that damages the artery walls, substantially lowering the chance of aneurysm formation. In practice, IVIG is started during the acute phase along with aspirin, which helps with fever and antiplatelet effects but does not by itself prevent aneurysms. Oral antibiotics don’t treat the vasculitis, and steroids are reserved for IVIG-resistant cases rather than first-line.