Introduction:
Following the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic peak, children suffering from a multiorgan inflammatory disease that often leads to shock have been reported. This condition shares features with Kawasaki disease, but its etiopathogenesis is unknown.
Hypothesis:
We aimed to describe presentation and hospital course for this pediatric inflammatory multisystemic syndrome associated with COVID-19 (PIMS-TS).
Methods:
Data were collected from a retrospective review of children from 33 participating European, Asian and American sites.
Results:
We included 183 patients (109 males, 59·6%) with PIMS-TS, at a mean age of 7·0 (±4·7) years. Fifty-six (30·6%) had black ethnicity and obesity was present in 48 (26·2%) cases. Overall, 114/183 (62·3%) had biological evidence of current or recent SARS-CoV-2 infection. At admission, all presented with fever, 117/183 (63·9%) with gastrointestinal symptoms and 79/183 (43·2%) with shock, that was associated with more frequent black ethnicity, higher inflammatory markers and more cardiac involvement. Twenty-seven patients (14·7%) fulfilled criteria for Kawasaki disease. They were younger with no shock, fewer gastrointestinal, cardio-respiratory and neurological symptoms. Among the remaining PIMS-TS patients, 77 (49·3%) had mainly fever and inflammation with less cardiac involvement. For the entire cohort of 183 patients, the mean duration of admission was 8·6 (±5·6) days. Inotropic support, mechanical ventilation and ECMO were indicated in 72 (39·3%), 43 (23·5%) and 4 (2·2%) patients, respectively. Three patients (1·6%) died. A shorter duration of symptoms before admission was a risk factor for worse outcome and for ECMO/death, with 63% increased risk per day reduction (95%CI 0·39-0·93, p=0·03) and with 51·4% increased risk per day reduction (95%CI 0·36-0·9, p=0·03), respectively.
Conclusions:
We describe the first largest international series of children with PIMS-TS. Life-threatening shock is a common presentation. A shorter duration of symptoms prior to admission characterizes the fulminant form of the disease with potentially worse outcome.