Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in Children Associated with COVID-19 in a Tertiary Level Hospital in Portugal

Authors

  • Joana Vieira de Melo Unidade de Infecciologia Pediátrica. Hospital Dona Estefânia. Centro Hospitalar Universitário Lisboa Central. Lisboa. https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1656-8878
  • Rita Valsassina Unidade de Infecciologia Pediátrica. Hospital Dona Estefânia. Centro Hospitalar Universitário Lisboa Central. Lisboa.
  • Ana Margarida Garcia Unidade de Infecciologia Pediátrica. Hospital Dona Estefânia. Centro Hospitalar Universitário Lisboa Central. Lisboa.
  • Tiago Silva Unidade de Infecciologia Pediátrica. Hospital Dona Estefânia. Centro Hospitalar Universitário Lisboa Central. Lisboa.
  • Catarina Gouveia Unidade de Infecciologia Pediátrica. Hospital Dona Estefânia. Centro Hospitalar Universitário Lisboa Central. Lisboa.
  • Maria João Brito Unidade de Infecciologia Pediátrica. Hospital Dona Estefânia. Centro Hospitalar Universitário Lisboa Central. Lisboa.

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.20344/amp.17797

Keywords:

Child, COVID-19/complications, SARS-CoV-2, Systemic Inflammatory Response Syndrome

Abstract

Introduction: Multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C) is a rare and severe manifestation of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). The aim of this study was to describe the characteristics of children with MIS-C admitted to a pediatric tertiary hospital in Portugal.
Material and Methods: Observational descriptive study of MIS-C patients admitted between April 2020 and April 2021. Demographic and clinical characteristics, diagnostic tests, and treatment data were collected. The diagnosis of MIS-C was based on the World Health Organization and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention criteria.
Results: We reported 45 children with MIS-C. The median age was seven years (IQR 4 - 10 years) and 60.0% were previously healthy. SARS-CoV-2 infection was confirmed in 77.8% by RT-PCR or antibody testing for SARS-CoV-2, and in 73.3%, an epidemiological link was confirmed. All the patients had a fever and organ system involvement: hematologic (100%), cardiovascular (97.8%), gastrointestinal (97.8%), mucocutaneous (86.7%), respiratory (26.7%), neurologic (15.6%), and renal (13.3%) system. Neurological (p = 0.035) and respiratory (p = 0.035) involvement were observed in patients with a more severe presentation. There was a significant difference of medians when comparing disease severity groups, namely in the values of hemoglobin (p = 0.015), lymphocytes (p = 0.030), D-dimer (p = 0.019), albumin (p < 0.001), NT-proBNP (p = 0.005), ferritin (p = 0.048), CRP (p = 0.006), procalcitonin (p = 0.005) and IL-6 (p = 0.002). From the total number of children, 93.3% received intravenous immunoglobulin, 91.1% methylprednisolone, and one patient (2.2%) received anakinra. Thirteen patients (28.8%) required intensive care and there were no deaths. Of the 21 patients evaluated, 90.4% had reduction of exercise capacity and of the 15 patients who underwent cardiac magnetic resonance, 53.3% had sequelae of cardiac injury.
Conclusion: We observed a large spectrum of disease presentation in a group of patients where most were previously healthy. A small percentage of patients (28.9%) had a severe presentation of the disease. MIS-C is a challenge in current clinical practice and its diagnosis requires a high level of clinical suspicion as the timely initiation of therapy is essential to prevent complications. However, there is no scientific consensus on the treatment and follow-up of these patients.

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Published

2022-05-31

How to Cite

1.
Vieira de Melo J, Valsassina R, Garcia AM, Silva T, Gouveia C, Brito MJ. Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in Children Associated with COVID-19 in a Tertiary Level Hospital in Portugal. Acta Med Port [Internet]. 2022 May 31 [cited 2024 Mar. 29];35(12):881-90. Available from: https://www.actamedicaportuguesa.com/revista/index.php/amp/article/view/17797

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