Copyright: ©Author(s) 2026. This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial (CC BY-NC 4.0) license. No commercial re-use. See permissions. Published by Baishideng Publishing Group Inc.
World J Clin Pediatr. Dec 9, 2026; 15(4): 122059
Published online Dec 9, 2026. doi: 10.5409/wjcp.122059
Published online Dec 9, 2026. doi: 10.5409/wjcp.122059
Deciphering Kawasaki disease genetics through next-generation sequencing: A scoping review
Anoop Kumar, Vaishali Thakur, Manpreet Dhaliwal, Taranpreet Kaur, Amit Rawat, Rakesh Kumar Pilania, Pediatric Allergy Immunology Unit, Advanced Pediatrics Centre, Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh 160012, Chandīgarh, India
Khem Raj, Department of Microbiology Basic Medical Sciences Block I, PANJAB University, Chandigarh 160012, Chandīgarh, India
Jayakanthan Kabeerdoss, Pediatric Biochemistry Unit, Advanced Pediatrics Centre, Post
Co-first authors: Anoop Kumar and Vaishali Thakur.
Co-corresponding authors: Manpreet Dhaliwal and Rakesh Kumar Pilania.
Author contributions: Kumar A, Thakur V, Dhaliwal M, Kaur T, Raj K, Kabeerdoss J, Rawat A, and Pilania RK conducted the literature review, performed the analysis, created the artwork, interpreted the data, and drafted the original manuscript. Pilania RK conceptualised and designed the study and made critical revisions to the manuscript. All authors prepared the draft and approved the submitted version. Kumar A and Thakur V contributed equally to this work. Pilania RK and Dhaliwal M are co-corresponding authors. The co-corresponding authors are justified in view of the complementary contribution. The manuscript was conceived by both co-authors. Further, one is a clinician-scientist with clinical expertise in Kawasaki disease and provides expertise on how genetic and genomic findings are clinically relevant. Another author has expertise in molecular immunology and lab technology, as well as in genomic data interpretation and sequencing techniques.
AI contribution statement: AI tools (ChatGPT and Grammarly) were used exclusively for refining grammar and structure. The interpretative content, conceptual framework, and clinical perspectives are entirely developed by the authors. The final manuscript reflects the authors' independent academic contributions.
Supported by Indian Council of Medical Research, New Delhi, India, No. IIRP-2023-0409.
Conflict-of-interest statement: All the authors report no relevant conflicts of interest for this article.
PRISMA 2009 Checklist statement: The authors have read the PRISMA 2009 Checklist, and the manuscript was prepared and revised according to the PRISMA 2009 Checklist.
Corresponding author: Rakesh Kumar Pilania, MD, Associate Professor, DM, Pediatric Allergy Immunology Unit, Advanced Pediatrics Centre, Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, APC 4A, 4127, Advanced Pediatrics, Chandigarh 160012, Chandīgarh, India.
Received: April 14, 2026
Revised: June 30, 2026
Accepted: July 28, 2026
Published online: December 9, 2026
Processing time: 158 Days and 9.1 Hours
Revised: June 30, 2026
Accepted: July 28, 2026
Published online: December 9, 2026
Processing time: 158 Days and 9.1 Hours
Core Tip
Core Tip: Whole exome sequencing and whole-genome sequencing are emerging as important tools for understanding the genetic basis of Kawasaki disease (KD). This review summarises current evidence showing how these techniques help identify key genes, immune pathways, and factors linked with coronary artery complications and intravenous immunoglobulin resistance. The findings suggest that KD is a genetically complex and heterogeneous disease involving multiple immune and vascular pathways. These insights are useful for improving risk prediction and guiding personalised treatment. Further large-scale studies in diverse populations are required to translate these findings into routine clinical practice.