Lessons learned from an animal model of Kawasaki disease.

Kawasaki disease is the most common cause of multisystem vasculitis in childhood. Kawasaki disease has been reported throughout the world and affects children of all ethnicity. Coronary artery damage from Kawasaki disease is the leading cause of acquired heart disease in children in the developed world. Diagnostic tests and prognostic markers are lacking, and questions remain unanswered in our understanding of the etiopathogenesis of the disease, thus limiting our ability to improve therapy and coronary outcome. In this article I will review advances made in an animal model of disease, which has helped advance our understanding of the etiology and pathogenesis of this fascinating clinical syndrome.