Characteristics and Pulmonary Computerized Imaging Findings of
Critically Ill Egyptian Patients with Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome
in Children
Abstract
Objectives. This study was carried out to delineate the patients’
characteristics and the imaging findings and their relation to some
biochemical markers of 31 critically ill patients with MIS-C. Design. A
retrospective cross-sectional study including all critically ill MIS-C
children admitted to the PICU from June 23rd to July 22nd, 2020.
Results. Eighteen males and thirteen females, with a median age of 9
years (interquartile range 6-11) presented mainly with fever (100%) and
hypotension (100%). Abnormalities in the chest computed tomography were
detected in 22 cases (71%). Consolidation and architecture distortion
were detected in 58.1% of patients; bilateral lesions and lower lobe
infiltrates, each, were evident in 64.5% , while the peripheral
distribution of lesions was seen in 71% of the cases. Pleural
thickening and effusion were found in 51.6% of the patients. In this
small case series, the presence of high ferritin was significantly
associated with the bilaterality of the lesions. Elevated C-reactive
protein was associated with the peripheral distribution of the lesions,
in addition, thrombocytopenia and hypoalbuminemia were significantly
correlated with the CT disease stage and CT severity score respectively.
Conclusions. Short and long-term follow up of MIS-C cases is not only
needed for the follow up of clinical and laboratory abnormalities but
also for the elucidation of the outcome of CT pulmonary findings.