Left ventricular wall motion abnormalities in Kawasaki's disease.

Two-dimensional (2DE) and M-mode echocardiographic examinations were reviewed for 21 patients with Kawasaki's disease. Cardiac catheterization including coronary angiography was performed in 14 patients. 2DE detected regional myocardial contraction deficits in four patients later proven to have coronary disease. Coronary aneurysms were detected by echocardiography in two of four patients with proven coronary lesions. Although a minor pericardial effusion was detected in two patients and an increased left ventricular (LV) cavity dimension was found in one patient, M-mode function studies were not helpful for detection of cardiac involvement. ECG and chest x-ray examination were also noncontributory. We conclude that 2DE detection of LV wall contraction abnormalities may be a sensitive method for detecting cardiac contraction abnormalities may be a sensitive method for detecting cardiac involvement in Kawasaki's disease. 2DE may be better for assessing LV contraction than for imaging aneurysms in Kawasaki patients.