ABSTRACT
Multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C) is one of the most significant sequela of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in children. Emerging literature has described myocardial dysfunction in MIS-C patients using traditional and two-dimensional speckle tracking echocardiography in the acute phase. However, data regarding persistence of subclinical myocardial injury after recovery is limited. We aimed to detect these changes with deformation imaging, hypothesizing that left ventricular global longitudinal (GLS) and circumferential strain (GCS) would remain impaired in the chronic phase despite normalization of ventricular function parameters assessed by two-dimensional echocardiography. A retrospective, single-institution review of 22 patients with MIS-C was performed. Fractional shortening, GLS, and GCS, along with regional longitudinal (RLS) and circumferential strain (RCS) were compared across the acute, subacute, and chronic timepoints (presentation, 14-42, and > 42 days, respectively). Mean GLS improved from - 18.4% in the acute phase to - 20.1% in the chronic phase (p = 0.4). Mean GCS improved from - 19.4% in the acute phase to - 23.5% in the chronic phase (p = 0.03). RCS and RLS were impaired in the acute phase and showed a trend towards recovery by the chronic phase, with the exception of the basal anterolateral segment. In our longitudinal study of MIS-C patients, GLS and GCS were lower in the acute phase, corroborating with left ventricular dysfunction by traditional measures. Additionally, as function globally recovers, GLS and GCS also normalize. However, some regional segments continue to have decreased strain values which may be an important subclinical marker for future adverse events.