Spectrum of cardiovascular diseases in children during high peak COVID-19 period infection in Northern Italy: is there a link?

Fabi, Marianna; Filice, Emanuele; Andreozzi, Laura; Conti, Francesca; Gabrielli, Liliana; Balducci, Anna; Vergine, Gianluca; Cicero, MD, Cristina; Iughetti, Lorenzo; Guerzoni, Maria Elena; Corinaldesi, Elena; Lazzarotto, Tiziana; Pession, Andrea; Lanari, Marcello

BACKGROUND: Children with COVID-19 have a milder clinical course than adults. We describe the spectrum of cardiovascular manifestations during a COVID-19 outbreak in Emilia-Romagna, Italy. METHODS: Cross-sectional multicenter study including all diagnosis of KD, myocarditis and multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C) from February to April,2020. KD patients were compared to those diagnosed before the epidemic. RESULTS: KD: 8 patients (6/8 boys, all negative for SARS-CoV-2); complete presentation in 5/8; 7/8 IVIG-responders; 3/8 showed transient coronary lesions (CALs). MYOCARDITIS: one 5-year-old girl negative for SARS-CoV-2, positive for Parvovirus B19. She responded to IVIG. MIS-C: 4 SARS-CoV-2 positive boys (3 patients with positive swab and serology, 1 patient with negative swab and positive serology). Three presented myocardial dysfunction and pericardial effusion, one developed multicoronary aneurysms and hyperinflammation; all responded to treatment. The fourth boy had mitral and aortic regurgitation that rapidly regressed after steroids. CONCLUSIONS: KD, myocarditis and MIS-C were distinguishable cardiovascular manifestations. KD did not show a more aggressive form compared to previous years: coronary involvement was frequent, but always transient. MIS-C and myocarditis rapidly responded to treatment without cardiac sequelae despite high markers of myocardial injury at onset suggesting a myocardial depression due to systemic inflammation rather than focal necrosis. Evidence of actual or previous SARS-CoV-2 infection was documented only in patients with MIS-C.