Multisystem inflammatory syndrome in neonates associated with COVID-19 in neonatal ICU of a tertiary care hospital

Objective: Neonatal multisystem inflammatory syndrome (MIS-N) is a unique disease of neonates described in several case reports from all over the world with a myriad of presentations and the emergence of new cases. Study Design: Retrospective case series. Place and Duration of the Study: Department of Paediatrics, Fazaia Medical College, Pakistan Air Force Hospital, Islamabad, Pakistan, from December 2021 to November 2022. Methodology: The study was conducted on neonates who were managed as MIS-N in the neonatal ICU. Data were collected and analysed on SPSS version 24. Results: Patients in this study ranged from newborns to 13 days of age with a mean age of 3.27 ± 4.29 days and average gestational age of 35.18 ± 3.67 weeks. Among these neonates, 7 (63.6%) had bleeding diathesis, 11 (100%) had seizures, 8 (72.2%) presented with haemodynamic instability and shock, and 7 (63.3%) had signs of heart failure. All neonates (100%) had markedly raised SARS-CoV2 IgG antibodies, CRP, ferritin, D-dimers, interleukin 6, procalcitonin, 10 (90.9%) had hypoalbuminemia, and 7 (63.3%) had deranged coagulation profile. Cardiac involvement was seen in all neonates (100%) with raised proBNP and myocardial dysfunction on echocardiography. Pulmonary hypertension was present in 6 (54.4%) neonates. High mortality was observed at 6 (54.5%) among which 4 (66.6%) were premature neonates. Conclusion: MIS-N is a new disease entity which is still under research. There is a high propensity for cardiovascular system involvement and higher mortality among preterm neonates. (author)