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COVID-19-Associated Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome Complicated with Giant Coronary Artery Aneurysm
Mohammad Reza Navaeifar1, Leila Shahbaznejad1, Ali Sadeghi Lotfabadi2
1Pediatric Infectious Diseases Research Center, Communicable Diseases Institute, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran.
Insights
This case report details a child with multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C) and Kawasaki disease (KD) during the COVID-19 pandemic, complicated by giant coronary artery aneurysm (CAA). Early diagnosis and treatment are crucial for managing severe COVID-19 complications in pediatric patients.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Infectious Diseases
- Cardiology
- Immunology
Background:
- Initial assumptions suggested COVID-19 was mild in children, but severe complications like MIS-C have emerged.
- Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in Children (MIS-C) and Kawasaki Disease (KD) share overlapping symptoms, complicating pediatric COVID-19 diagnosis.
- Understanding MIS-C's presentation and progression is vital for effective pediatric COVID-19 management.
Observation:
- A 14-month-old boy presented with fever, irritability, and rash, initially treated for Kawasaki Disease (KD).
- The patient had COVID-19 exposure, with initial negative RT-PCR but later positive IgM and seroconversion to IgG.
- Despite KD treatment, coronary artery ectasia progressed to hypotension, leading to a MIS-C diagnosis and development of giant coronary artery aneurysm (CAA).
Findings:
- The case highlights a rare presentation of MIS-C with concurrent KD, complicated by giant CAA in a pediatric COVID-19 patient.
- Treatment with immunoglobulin, methylprednisolone, and infliximab led to a significant decrease in CAA size.
- This report is the first in Iran to document MIS-C during the COVID-19 pandemic, associated with KD and giant CAA.
Implications:
- This case underscores the importance of considering MIS-C in children with KD-like symptoms during the COVID-19 pandemic.
- Aggressive management strategies may be effective in mitigating severe cardiovascular complications like giant CAA.
- Further research is needed to elucidate the complex interplay between COVID-19, MIS-C, KD, and cardiovascular sequelae in children.
Abstract:
In the early stages of the outbreak of the novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), it was assumed that this infection is very mild and uncommon in children. However, recent reports have shown that children may also develop the disease and its severe complications. These complications included shock, multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C), and pneumonia in children. A previously healthy 14-month-old boy presented with fever, irritability, and skin rash, besides changes in the lips, conjunctiva, and tongue. His medical history, clinical presentations, treatment, laboratory data, and follow-up information were recorded. He was treated according to the diagnosis of Kawasaki disease (KD). He had a history of close contact with a COVID-19 patient. However, the result of reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) assay for COVID-19 was negative. Immunoglobulin M for COVID-19 was positive (1.20), while immunoglobulin G was negative (0.37). Three weeks later, seroconversion of COVID-19 immunoglobulin G (1.42) occurred. Despite treatment with two doses of intravenous immunoglobulin and methylprednisolone, coronary artery ectasia was detected. On the sixth day of hospitalization, the patient experienced hypotension, which necessitated treatment with inotropic drugs and resulted in a change of diagnosis to MIS-C. The later echocardiography showed evidence of coronary artery aneurysm (CAA), which finally changed to giant CAA. Although the patient was treated with infliximab, the size of CAA showed a significant decrease in the one-month follow-up. This is the first report of MIS-C during the COVID-19 pandemic in Iran, accompanied by KD, which was complicated with giant CAA.
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