Introduction This study sought to assess the changes of coronary artery complications and cardiac function in the murine model of Kawasaki disease (KD) with a high frequency ultrasound system.

Methods Lactobacillus casei cell wall extract (LCWE) was prepared, and injected to C57BL/6 mice intraperitoneally to induce KD. Totally 40 mice were categorised into KD model group and the control group randomly. On days 10, 21 and 60, coronary artery were measured by echocardiography. Left ventricular end-diastolic diameter (LVIDd), end-systolic diameter (LVIDs), ejection fraction (EF), fractional shortening (FS) and blood flow velocity of atrio-ventricular valve during early diastole (E)/atrial contraction (A) were also assessed.

Results Echocardiography detected coronary artery and measured cardiac function in all mice. There was a high density echo images around the coronary artery wall at 10 days and 21 days in the KD group, 4(20%) presented local coronary artery aneurysm at 14 days and 21 days. The diameter of left coronary artery in KD group (0.46 ± 0.11 mm on D10, 0.47 ± 0.09 mm on D21) was larger than controls (0.32 ± 0.14 mm on D 10, 0.36 ± 0.06 mm on D21, all p < 0.01). There were no significantly differences in measurement of cardiac function.

Conclusions Coronary artery and cardiac function could be assessed easily by echocardiography in murine model of KD. Murine model of KD established by LCWE was shown similar natural progression on coronary artery abnormalities with KD patient.