[Family observation of Kawasaki disease: 2 cases in sister and brother].

This article presents the clinical observation of 2 cases of children suffering from Kawasaki disease in the same family at a 7-year interval. This observation suggests a genetic predisposition to the disease. Epidemiological surveys conducted in Japan for some years point to a genetic factor but without proof. Childhood systemic febrile vasculitis is hard to recognise, so its diagnosis is often made lately, while there is an effective therapy, which prevents from serious cardiovascular complications. Identification of its precise cause, a necessary step before any diagnostic laboratory test, will be a major breakthrough.