Doenças Cardiovasculares e Diagnóstico

Pediatric Heart Complications of Covid-19 during Recent Six Months in Kurdistan / Iran: A Case Series Study

Abstract

Mohsen Shahidi* and Abdorrahim Afkhamzadeh

Introduction: SARS-CoV-2 can infect host cells through ACE2 with possible damage to the myocardium. Likewise, cytokine storm in later stages of COVID-19 infection may cause progressive inflammatory phenomenon. We reported 12 pediatric patients having different severity of cardiac complications with history of COVID-19 in themselves or their older family members. In all of these pediatric cases there was a family history of positive laboratory reports for SARS-CoV-2 infection in older family members.

Methods: This is a case series study. We were being randomly consulted for possible cardiovascular involvement of pediatric COVID-19 patients in corona intensive care unit. During the past six months, we confronted twelve children from corona intensive care unit with various findings of myocarditis and/or Kawasaki-like disease on echocardiographic evaluation. These patients were treated appropriately depending on their cardiovascular disorders. We followed these pediatric patients with intermittent echocardiographic evaluation for the following 2 to 6 months.

Results: In spite of preceding optimistic attitude regarding COVID-19 in children, we found a series of recent pediatric cases with treatable cardiac complications. Myocardial and coronary artery involvement were the main problems in these young patients. Fortunately, on follow up, all of these cardiac complications were appropriately managed by our therapeutic protocol with satisfying outcomes.

Conclusion: We emphasize on especial concern about cardiac involvement in children and adolescents with recent COVID-19 in their family. This can be achieved by echocardiographic evaluation in suspicious younger individuals during one to two months of SARS-CoV-2 infection in the older family members.