Case Report of Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in Adults (MIS-A): A 31-Year-Old Man with Fever, Rash, and Cardiac...

BACKGROUND Multisystem inflammatory syndrome in adults (MIS-A) is an uncommon condition after a confirmed severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection, manifesting as multiorgan failure despite apparent resolution of initial symptoms. While this syndrome shares similar characteristics with a syndrome found in children, fewer cases are reported in adults. This report details a 31-year-old man fulfilling the diagnostic criteria of MIS-A, who was successfully resuscitated following cardiac arrest. CASE REPORT A 31-year-old man was admitted to the intensive care unit for 3 days of progressively worsening fever, chills, diaphoresis, exanthematous rash, headache, and neck stiffness. The patient had a history of mild, resolved SARS-CoV-2 infection 6 weeks prior to his presentation, diagnosed by rapid antigen and reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) testing. Meningitis and autoimmune pathologies were initially suspected but were ruled out. Given the patient's symptoms, prior SARS-CoV-2 infection, and positive inflammatory markers, findings correlated with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's diagnostic criteria for multisystem inflammatory syndrome in adults. On hospital day 1, the patient decompensated into severe respiratory distress requiring intubation. Shortly after, the patient developed cardiac arrest and was successfully resuscitated. He was transferred from our rural hospital to an intensive care unit at a facility with additional resources. He remained critically ill for several weeks while receiving high-dose steroids, intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG), and hemodialysis until his recovery. CONCLUSIONS Early diagnosis and treatment of MIS-A would significantly improve outcomes in this subset of patients, especially in clinical settings with limited resources.