Multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children: a case series

OBJECTIVE: To describe a case series of multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C) in a pediatric tertiary hospital. METHODS: Patients under the age of 18 years who met MIS-C criteria of the Brazilian Ministry of Health (MH) and/or the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health (RCPCH) were included. A retrospective analysis was carried out by reviewing medical records and complementary exams. RESULTS: Six pediatric patients with mean age of 126 months were admitted with fever associated with multisystem involvement: all of them had abdominal pain and diarrhea and two underwent appendectomy; 100% had coagulopathy and increased inflammatory markers; 83% had cardiovascular impairment and 60% required vasoactive drugs; 83% had mucocutaneous symptoms and 50% required ventilatory support by invasive mechanical ventilation or non-invasive ventilation. One patient showed coronary artery dilation on echocardiogram. All patients received empiric antibiotic therapies. SARS-CoV-2 IgG testing was positive in five patients. Treatment was performed after excluding infectious causes: five patients (83%) received intravenous immunoglobulin, five patients (83%) pulse methylprednisolone therapy and one (16%) Tocilizumab. One patient died. The average length of stay in Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) was seven days. CONCLUSIONS: These cases are added to the literature in construction of this emerging condition. Early diagnosis should be considered due to its potential severity.