SARS-CoV-2 precipitated Kasabach-Merritt syndrome in a child with Kaposiform Hemangiendothelioma and acute lymphoblastic leukemia (preprint)

Kaposiform hemangiendothelioma usually occurs in children under two years of age and develops thrombocytopenia secondary to sequestration of platelets within (Kasabach-Merritt phenomenon) and is complicated by secondary consumption of fibrinogen and clotting factors. SARS-CoV-2 produces cutaneous endothelitis as a direct effect of the presence of the virus and the host inflammatory response. We describe an 8-month-old boy with leukemia and SARS-CoV-2 infection who developed Kasabach-Merritt phenomenon, coagulopathy, and intestinal involvement. Given the emerging evidence of endothelial and vascular involvement in COVID-19, the development of tests to detect vascular injury may be critical to guide the use of new therapeutic strategies.

Pediatric critical COVID-19 and mortality in a multinational cohort (preprint)

ObjectivesTo understand the international epidemiology of critical pediatric COVID-19 and compare presentation, treatments, and outcomes of younger (<2 years) and older (>2 years) children. DesignProspective, observational study from April 1 to December 31, 2020 SettingInternational multicenter study from 55 sites from North America, Latin America, and Europe. ParticipantsPatients <19 years old hospitalized with critical COVID-19 Interventionsnone Main outcomes measuredClinical course, treatments, and outcomes were compared between younger and older children. Multivariable logistic regression was used to calculate adjusted odds ratios (aOR) for hospital mortality. Results557 subjects (median age, 8 years; 24% <2 years) were enrolled from 55 sites (63% Latin American). Half had comorbidities. Younger children had more respiratory findings (56% vs 44%), viral pneumonia (45% vs 29%), and treatment with invasive ventilation (50% vs 37). Gastrointestinal (28% vs 69%) or mucocutaneous (16% vs 44%) findings, vasopressor requirement (44% vs 60%), and MIS-C (15% vs 40%) were less common in younger children. Hospital mortality was 10% overall but 15% in younger children (odds ratio 1.89 [95%CI 1.05-3.39]). When adjusted for age, sex, region, and illness severity, mortality-associated factors included cardiac (aOR 2.6; 95%CI 1.07-6.31) or pulmonary comorbidities (aOR 4.4; 95%CI 1.68-11.5), admission hypoxemia (aOR 2.33; 95%CI 1.24-4.37), and lower respiratory symptoms (aOR 2.83; 95%CI 1.49-5.39). Gastrointestinal (aOR 0.49; 95%CI 0.26-0.92) or mucocutaneous symptoms (aOR 0.31; 95%CI 0.15-0.64), treatment with intravenous immune globulin (aOR 0.33; 95%CI 0.17-0.65), and MIS-C (aOR 0.26; 95%CI 0.11-0.64) were associated with lower mortality. ConclusionsWe identified age-related differences in presentation and mortality for critical pediatric COVID-19 that should prompt more attention to improving management in younger children, especially in developing countries. Table of Contents SummaryThis is a multinational study describing critical pediatric COVID-19 clinical spectrum and related mortality in high and low-middle income countries during 2020. Whats known on this subjectPediatric critical illness due to COVID-19 is uncommon and have lower mortality compared to adults when hospitalized. While larger cohorts are from high-income countries (HICs), studies including data from low-middle-income countries (LMICs) remain scarce. What this study addsIn our multinational cohort of critical pediatric COVID-19, we identified higher mortality than previously reported and age-related disease patterns. Children <2 years old had more respiratory disease and higher mortality, and older children had more non-pulmonary disease and better outcomes.

Clinical Characteristics and Factors Associated with Unfavorable Outcomes of Pediatric Inflammatory Multisystem Syndrome Related to COVID-19 in Lima-Peru (preprint)

Objective: Describe the clinical-epidemiological profile and determine the factors associated with unfavorable outcomes of pediatrics multisystemic inflammatory syndrome (SIM-P) related to COVID-19 at Edgardo Rebagliati Martins National Hospital (HNERM), Lima-Perú, from April to September 2020. Materials and methods: Retrospective cohort in children under 14 years of age. The current criteria were used for the diagnosis of SIM-P. The effect size was estimated with relative risk (RR) and 95% confidence intervals, using a generalized linear Poisson family model with robust variance. Results:  43 patients were included, 22 (51.2%) Kawasaki Disease (EK), 10 (23.3%) shock, and 11(25.6%) fever with inflammatory markers. The median age was 8 years, most men, without comorbidity, with negative molecular test and positive IgG. Gastrointestinal and mucocutaneous manifestations predominated, with altered inflammatory markers and myocardial injury. Most required intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG), aspirin (AAS), corticosteroids and antibiotics. More than a third required VMI, ICU and developed organic dysfunction, with a lethality of 4.6% (2/43). Increasing lethality to 20% (2/10) in the shock subgroup. Five were found (14.7%) coronary aneurysm. Having  some comorbidity (RR 1.79; IC95%1.02-3.14), C-reactive protein ≥ 10 mg/dL (RR 2.09; IC95%1.15-3.79), and SatO2 ≤92 in emergency (RR 2.84; IC95%1.47-5.50) was morelikely to betransferred to ICU. In addition, those with some comorability (RR 2.23; IC95%1.04-4.79), with lymphopenia <500cel/mL (RR 2.8; IC95%1.24-6.30), and with d≥ 3 mg/L (RR 3.57; IC95%1.23-10.38) were more likely to require VMI. Conclusion:  Active monitoringis an eye to make early diagnosis and management in order to improve the prognosis.