Longitudinal assessment of preparation for care transition among adolescents and young adults with rheumatologic disease: a single-center pilot study.

Adolescents and young adults (AYA) with rheumatologic diseases are at high risk for poor outcomes and gaps in care when transitioning from pediatric to adult care. However, tools for evaluating transition readiness and assessing the impact of transition interventions are limited. We implemented a written transition policy at our pediatric rheumatology center and evaluated preparation for transition among AYA 16 and older before and after distribution. 31 of 77 patients completed the follow-up survey (response rate 40%). Patient report of transition counseling increased following written transition policy implementation, though these results were not statistically significant in our small cohort. Most follow-up respondents (n = 19, 61%) had not yet completed care transfer; 4 (13%) had arranged a visit with an adult rheumatologist and 8 (26%) had fully transitioned to adult care. Those who successfully completed care transfer were older, had completed higher levels of education, and had significantly higher baseline transition preparation scores compared to those with no transfer arranged or planned visit only. Our single-center pilot study demonstrated that longitudinal assessment of transition preparation is feasible and that scores are significantly associated with care transfer outcomes. Tracking transition preparation over time may provide practices with information on areas of highest need for transition guidance and predict successful transfer among AYA with rheumatologic disease.

Pediatric EVALI in the Age of COVID-19/MIS-C: Diagnostic Considerations.

OBJECTIVES: Multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C) and e-cigarette or vaping product use-associated lung injury (EVALI) have significant overlap in clinical features, which can contribute to delay in identification and treatment. The objectives of this report were to identify and describe features that are common in both diagnoses and those that may help distinguish EVALI from MIS-C, and to highlight the diagnostic challenges observed at our tertiary medical center. METHODS: We identified adolescents diagnosed with MIS-C who had respiratory or gastrointestinal symptoms and patients diagnosed with EVALI during the same time period. We compared demographics, history, clinical manifestations, laboratory findings, and features of the hospital course to determine areas of overlap between MIS-C and EVALI, as well as distinct features of each diagnosis. Mann-Whitney U test was used to compare continuous variables and Fisher's exact test was used to compare categorical variables. RESULTS: We found that cardiovascular and mucocutaneous findings and thrombocytopenia were more common in MIS-C. EVALI patients had a higher degree of inflammation and history of antecedent weight loss. Providers at our institution were more likely to consider MIS-C than EVALI on the differential diagnosis, including in patients with vaping history and no evidence of previous severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 infection. CONCLUSIONS: This study emphasizes the need for a thorough collection of substance use history for all patients and consideration of EVALI in adolescents who present with respiratory compromise or gastrointestinal symptoms and systemic inflammation, particularly in the absence of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 exposure or cardiac findings characteristic of MIS-C.

WITHDRAWN: Complete Heart Block, Severe Ventricular Dysfunction and Myocardial Inflammation in a Child with COVID-19 Infection.

The Publisher regrets that this article is an accidental duplication of an article that has already been published, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jaccas.2020.05.023>. The duplicate article has therefore been withdrawn. The full Elsevier Policy on Article Withdrawal can be found at https://www.elsevier.com/about/our-business/policies/article-withdrawal.

Distinct clinical and immunological features of SARS-CoV-2-induced multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children.

BACKGROUNDPediatric SARS-CoV-2 infection can be complicated by a dangerous hyperinflammatory condition termed multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C). The clinical and immunologic spectrum of MIS-C and its relationship to other inflammatory conditions of childhood have not been studied in detail.METHODSWe retrospectively studied confirmed cases of MIS-C at our institution from March to June 2020. The clinical characteristics, laboratory studies, and treatment response were collected. Data were compared with historic cohorts of Kawasaki disease (KD) and macrophage activation syndrome (MAS).RESULTSTwenty-eight patients fulfilled the case definition of MIS-C. Median age at presentation was 9 years (range: 1 month to 17 years); 50% of patients had preexisting conditions. All patients had laboratory confirmation of SARS-CoV-2 infection. Seventeen patients (61%) required intensive care, including 7 patients (25%) who required inotrope support. Seven patients (25%) met criteria for complete or incomplete KD, and coronary abnormalities were found in 6 cases. Lymphopenia, thrombocytopenia, and elevation in inflammatory markers, D-dimer, B-type natriuretic peptide, IL-6, and IL-10 levels were common but not ubiquitous. Cytopenias distinguished MIS-C from KD and the degree of hyperferritinemia and pattern of cytokine production differed between MIS-C and MAS. Immunomodulatory therapy given to patients with MIS-C included intravenous immune globulin (IVIG) (71%), corticosteroids (61%), and anakinra (18%). Clinical and laboratory improvement were observed in all cases, including 6 cases that did not require immunomodulatory therapy. No mortality was recorded in this cohort.CONCLUSIONMIS-C encompasses a broad phenotypic spectrum with clinical and laboratory features distinct from KD and MAS.FUNDINGThis work was supported by the National Institutes of Health, National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases; the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases; Rheumatology Research Foundation Investigator Awards and Medical Education Award; Boston Children's Hospital Faculty Career Development Awards; the McCance Family Foundation; and the Samara Jan Turkel Center.

Complete Heart Block, Severe Ventricular Dysfunction, and Myocardial Inflammation in a Child With COVID-19 Infection.

A young child presented with severe ventricular dysfunction and troponin leak in the setting of coronavirus disease-2019. He developed intermittent, self-resolving, and hemodynamically insignificant episodes of complete heart block that were diagnosed on telemetry and managed conservatively. This report is the first description of coronavirus disease-2019-induced transient complete heart block in a child. (Level of Difficulty: Intermediate.).

On the Alert for Cytokine Storm: Immunopathology in COVID-19.

Poor outcomes in COVID-19 correlate with clinical and laboratory features of cytokine storm syndrome. Broad screening for cytokine storm and early, targeted antiinflammatory therapy may prevent immunopathology and could help conserve limited health care resources. While studies are ongoing, extrapolating from clinical experience in cytokine storm syndromes may benefit the multidisciplinary teams caring for patients with severe COVID-19.