Some fertility treatments may increase the likelihood of developing Kawasaki disease in children under five, according to a report by infohub.kz.
Japanese researchers from Osaka University and Osaka Children's Hospital analyzed data from the large-scale JECS project, which involved 101,864 children. The specialists monitored the health of participants from birth to age five and compared the methods of conception with the likelihood of developing the rare inflammatory disease.
During the observation period, Kawasaki syndrome was diagnosed in 1,226 children. It was found that ovulation stimulation, intrauterine insemination, and in vitro fertilization increase the risk of developing the disease by approximately 50% compared to natural conception. Meanwhile, intracytoplasmic sperm injection showed no statistically significant association with the disease.
The link between the procedures and the rare disease persisted even after accounting for maternal health conditions, including endometriosis, polycystic ovary syndrome, and autoimmune disorders. The researchers emphasize that the study demonstrates only a correlation, not a direct causal relationship. In the next phase, the scientists plan to investigate the mechanisms that trigger the child's immune system response.