ABSTRACT
Introduction: Multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MISC), also known as paediatric inflammatory multisystem syndrome temporally associated with COVID-19 (PIMS-TS), is a condition characterised by persistent fever, elevation of inflammatory indexes and evidence of organs involvement or shock. Objectives: To describe clinical characteristics, diagnostic findings and therapeutic interventions of monocentric cohort of MIS-C. Methods: Diagnosis of MIS-C was done following CDC criteria. Patients were hospitalised at Santobono-Pausilipon Children's Hospital in Naples, Italy, from November 2020 to March 2021. Results: MIS-C was diagnosed in 29 patients, 14 males (48.3%). Mean age at diagnosis was 7,2 years old (range 4 months-12,9 years). Contact with SARS-CoV-2-positive patient emerged in 18/29 patients (62%) while 5/29 patients (17,2%) reported symptomatic COVID-19 in the weeks before. SARS-CoV-2 serologic assayrevealed IgG +/IgM- in 100% of the patients. No one presented concurrent conditions but obesity in 6/29 (20,7%). Mucocutaneous involvement was evidenced in 21/29 patients (72%), gastrointestinal symptoms 22/29 (75.9%), cardiac involvement in 27/29 (93,1%). The most frequent symptoms were fever (100%), conjunctivitis (65.5%), abdominal pain (62%), diarrhoea (48,2%), rash (44,9%), vomiting (31%) and cheilitis (31%). Laboratory findings are summarised in table 1. Troponin resulted elevated in 16/29 (55,1%), associated elevation of BNP was evidenced in 12/29 (62%). Electrocardiography showed alterations in 25/29 (86,2%) while echocardiography in 21/29 (72%). Concerning therapy, 27/29 (93%) patients underwent parenteral antibiotics at the admission. Intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) was performed in 25/29 (86,2%) of patients. Due to cardiac involvement 13/29 patients (44,8%) received bolus of steroids. 4/29 patients (13,8%) presented worsening of clinical and laboratoristic parameters during treatment with steroids, requiring Anakinra. One patient died due to cardiogenic shock at the admission. Conclusion: Mucocutaneous, gastrointestinal and cardiac involvement are the most common manifestations in our cohort, as also reported in literature. Biologic treatment was necessary in minority of patients. MIS-C is a new emerging condition and represent a challenge to paediatricians due to the severity of presentation. More data are needed to better define incidence and prognosis of that condition.
ABSTRACT
Introduction: Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in Children (MISC) is a new and life-threatening disease temporally associated to Covid-19. Objectives: The aim of the study is to analyze the clinical, laboratoristic and instrumental features of patients with diagnosis of MIS-C at the onset in order to early recognize the disease. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed clinical records of children admitted to our Emergency Department between April 2020 and March 2021, who were ultimately diagnosed with MIS-C associated with SARS-CoV2. Data collected included all clinical and laboratory parameters at presentation to the Emergency Department. We also recorded data regarding the duration of fever and hospitalization and the presence of abnormalities at chest X-ray, abdominal and cardiac ultrasound. Results: Clinical and laboratory data of the twenty-seven children retrospectively enrolled, including symptoms at presentation to the Emergency Department, are summarized in Table 1. Median duration of fever was 4 days (range 1.5 - 7). With the exception of fever, abdominal pain and diarrhea were the most frequent complaints at presentation. No significant differences were found between laboratory parameters in children with or without abdominal pain, diarrhea, vomit, conjunctivitis or rash. Heart ultrasound showed no abnormalities in 11 out of 27 children (41%). Findings in other children were mainly represented by mild pericardial effusion (29.6%) and mild mitral valve insufficiency (25.9%). Minor abnormalities in the interventricular septal dynamics were detected in 3 subjects (11.1%). Abdominal ultrasound was unremarkable in 5 out of 27 patients (18.5%). Most children (51.8%) had mild-to-moderate peritoneal effusion, which was often associated with ileal loops wall thickening (29.6%). The thickened segments were mostly located in proximity of the ileo-cecal valve or of the appendix. Mesenteric lymphadenitis was found in eleven children (40.7%). No significant differences were found in clinical or laboratory parameters between children with abnormal heart or abdominal ultrasounds and those without pathologic findings at these exams. Chest X ray at presentation showed no significant abnormalities in most patients, and only the child who died one day after admission showed bilateral basal opacities. Conclusion: The collected data allow to identify clinical and laboratoristic tic elements of patients admitted to Emergency care unit to provide early recognition of the MIS-C .The study included a modest sample size and for this reason the generalizability of results is limited. A national multicentre study is ongoing.