Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in Children: An International Survey

To describe presentation, hospital course, and predictors of bad outcome in multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C).

Retrospective data review of a case series of children meeting the published definition for MIS-C who were discharged or died between March 1, 2020, and June 15, 2020, from 33 participating European, Asian, and American hospitals. Data were collected through a Web-based survey and included clinical, laboratory, electrocardiographic, and echocardiographic findings and treatment management.

We included 183 patients with MIS-C: male sex, 109 (59.6%); mean age 7.0 ± 4.7 years; Black race, 56 (30.6%); obesity, 48 (26.2%). Overall, 114 of 183 (62.3%) had evidence of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 infection. All presented with fever, 117 of 183 (63.9%) with gastrointestinal symptoms, and 79 of 183 (43.2%) with shock, which was associated with Black race, higher inflammation, and imaging abnormalities. Twenty-seven patients (14.7%) fulfilled criteria for Kawasaki disease. These patients were younger and had no shock and fewer gastrointestinal, cardiorespiratory, and neurologic symptoms. The remaining 77 patients (49.3%) had mainly fever and inflammation. Inotropic support, mechanical ventilation, and extracorporeal membrane oxygenation were indicated in 72 (39.3%), 43 (23.5%), and 4 (2.2%) patients, respectively. A shorter duration of symptoms before admission was found to be associated with poor patient outcome and for extracorporeal membrane oxygenation and/or death, with 72.3% (95% confidence interval: 0.56-0.90; P = .006) increased risk per day reduction and 63.3% (95% confidence interval: 0.47-0.82; P < .0001) increased risk per day reduction respectively.

In this case series, children with MIS-C presented with a wide clinical spectrum, including Kawasaki disease-like, life-threatening shock and milder forms with mainly fever and inflammation. A shorter duration of symptoms before admission was associated with a worse outcome.