SUCCESSFUL HOME INR MONITORING FOLLOWING KAWASAKI DISEASE

Most paediatricians will encounter at least one case ofKawasakidisease complicated by aneurysmal damage of the coronary arteries. Current consensus recommends anticoagulation with warfarin to reduce the risk of myocardial ischaemia and infarction in such cases. Monitoring warfarin treatment in these children may be challenging. We describe a case of an 11 week old Caucasian boy who presented with evolvingKawasakisyndrome complicated by giant coronary aneurysms. His subsequent anticoagulation has been managed with near patient finger prick INR testing, initially in a hospital clinic then at home. The case illustrates some of the advantages and disadvantages of this process.