Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in Children (MIS-C) Associated With COVID-19 – Single-Center Experience

ABSTRACT

Objectives: To describe the clinical presentation, phenotype and outcome of multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C) associated with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) from a tertiary care center in southern India. Methods: 257 children fulfilling the inclusion criteria of MIS-C were prospectively enrolled from June, 2020 to March, 2022. Results: Median (range) age at presentation was 6 year (35 day to 12 years). Presenting features were fever (98%), vomiting (75.8%), red eyes (63%), rashes (49%), pain abdomen (49%), shock (45.9%), lymphopenia (73%, thrombocytopenia (58.3%) and anemia (45%). 103 (39.7%) children required intensive care admission. Shock phenotype, Kawasaki-like phenotype and no specific phenotype were diagnosed in 45.9%, 44.4%, and 36.6% children, respectively. Left ventricular dysfunction (30.3%), acute kidney injury (13%), acute liver failure (17.4%), and hemophagolymphohistiocytosis (HLH) (13.6%) were the major system involvement in MIS-C. Mitral regurgitation (P=0.029), hyperechogenic coronaries (P=0.006), left ventricular dysfunction (P=0.001) and low ejection fraction (P=0.007) were significantly associated with shock. Overall mortality was 11.7%. Conclusions: Kawasaki-like and shock-like presentation were common in MIS-C. Coronary abnormalities were seen in 118 (45.9%) children. Children with acute kidney injury, HLH, need for mechanical ventilation, and echocardiogram evidence of mitral regurgitation in MIS-C have a poor outcome.