Baseline Echocardiography and Laboratory Findings in MIS-C and Associations with Clinical Illness Severity

Children with COVID-associated multisystem inflammatory syndrome (MIS-C) may develop severe disease. We explored the association of admission echocardiographic and laboratory parameters with MIS-C disease severity. This retrospective, single center study of consecutive MIS-C patients (4/2020-12/2021) excluded those with preexisting cardiomyopathy, congenital heart disease, or prior cardiotoxic therapy. Our hypothesis was that worse admission echocardiographic and laboratory parameters were associated with more severe disease based on vasoactive medication use. Univariable and multivariable logistic regression models assessed the association between vasoactive medication use and baseline variables. Of 118 MIS-C patients, median age was 7.8 years (IQR 4.6, 11.8), 48% received vasoactive medication. Higher admission brain natriuretic peptide [OR 1.07 (95% CI 1.02,1.14), p = 0.019], C-reactive protein [OR 1.08 (1.03,1.14), p = 0.002], troponin [OR 1.05 (1.02,1.1), p = 0.015]; lower left ventricular ejection fraction [LVEF, OR 0.96 (0.92,1), p = 0.042], and worse left atrial reservoir strain [OR 0.96 (0.92,1), p = 0.04] were associated with vasoactive medication use. Only higher CRP [OR 1.07 (1.01, 1.11), p = 0.034] and lower LVEF [0.91 (0.84,0.98), p = 0.015] remained independently significant. Among those with normal admission LVEF (78%, 92/118), 43% received vasoactive medication and only higher BNP [OR 1.09 (1.02,1.19), p = 0.021 per 100 pg/mL] and higher CRP [OR 1.07 (1.02,1.14), p = 0.013] were associated with use of vasoactive medication. Nearly half of all children admitted for MIS-C subsequently received vasoactive medication, including those admitted with a normal LVEF. Similarly, admission strain parameters were not discriminatory. Laboratory markers of systemic inflammation and cardiac injury may better predict early MIS-C disease severity.