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Objectives: Diagnostic between multisystem inflammatory syndrome associated with COVID-19 in children (MIS-C) and Kawasaki disease (KD) can make difficulties due to many similarities. Our study aimed to create a Kawasaki/MIS-C differentiation score (KMDscore) allowing discrimination of MIS-C and KD.Study design: The retrospective multicenter cohort study included clinical, laboratory, and instrumental information about MIS-C (n = 72) and KD (n = 147). The variables allowed to discriminate both conditions used to construct and validate the diagnostic score called the KMDscore.Results: Patients with MIS-C were older, had earlier admission to the hospital, had a shorter time before fever resolution, two times frequently had signs of GI and CNS involvement observed, and had more impressive thrombocytopenia, higher level of CRP, ferritin, ALT, AST, LDH, creatinine, triglycerides, troponin, and D-dimer compared to KD patients. Respiratory signs in MIS-C were presented with pleuritis, acute respiratory distress syndrome, oxygen dependency, lung infiltration, and ground-glass opacities in CT. The heart involvement with fast progression of myocarditis provided the severity of MIS-C and ICU admission due to 12 times higher arterial hypotension or shock and required cardiotonic. No differences in the frequency of CA lesions were seen in the majority of cases. Five criteria, CRP >11 mg/dl (18 points), D-dimer >607 ng/ml (27 points), age >5 years (30 points), thrombocytopenia (25 points), and GI involvement (28 points), were included in the KMDscore. The summa >55 points allowed to discriminate MIS-C from KD with a sensitivity of 87.5% and specificity of 89.1%.Conclusion: The KMDscore can be used to differentiate the diagnostic of MIS-C from KD.

BackgroundSystemic juvenile idiopathic arthritis (SoJIA) is the most striking form of juvenile idiopathic arthritis. The aim of our study was to evaluate the clinical responses and outcomes of children with SoJIA to IL-6 blockade using two different tocilizumab (TCZ) treatment protocols designed for milder and more severe SoJIA patient groups, and evaluate the possibility of achieving biologic-free remission.MethodsThirty-seven active SoJIA children who have failed treatment with corticosteroids and other DMARDs were included in our retrospective study. TCZ doses were prescribed in two treatment approaches: every 2 weeks TCZ dosing (Q2W) and every 4 weeks TCZ dosing (Q4W). The patients were assigned to these two groups by the study physicians depending on the severity of the SoJIA disease as judged by each clinician.ResultsThirty-three of the 37 children successfully completed the trial. TCZ was discontinued in 11patients during the trial. Seven children achieved inactive disease and were allowed to stop the TCZ and 4 had severe adverse events requiring drug cessation. Currently 7 patients continue to have TCZ-free remission [4/7 remission off-medication, 3/7still on methotrexate (MTX)]. This mixed group had a median treatment duration of 1002 days. The children in remission off of all medications, TCZ and MTX, had a median remission duration of 1162 days (ranged 932–1301 days).Compared to the patients assigned to the Q2W TCZ treatment group, the patients assigned to the Q4W TCZ group had a milder SoJIA course. The patients had higher levels of hemoglobin, total proteins, and serum albumins. They had lower white blood cell counts (WBC), % granulocytes, CRP, ESR, ferritins, and LDH. These children had a lower frequency of internal organ involvement, fewer relapses during TCZ treatment, and no macrophage activation syndrome episodes.ConclusionsOur experience with TCZ for SoJIA supports the excellent result of other studies. What may be novel is our finding that thisIL-6 blockade with TCZ may be able to be utilized at a less frequent dosing schedule in mild SoJIA compared to severe SoJIA. We discuss other factors that may increase the probability of a patient reaching TCZ-free remission.

BackgroundUveitis is the most common extra-articular manifestation of juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA), often entirely asymptomatic but could be sight-threatening. The main predictors of uveitis in JIA are oligoarticular (OA) subtype, ANA-positivity and younger age at the JIA onset. Methotrexate (MTX) has been able to decrease the incidence of uveitis in JIA up to 2 times [1]. Treatment of JIA depends on number of active joints: NSAID and intra-articular (IAC) steroid injection are the first line-therapy for OA subtype of JIA. In Russia there is a restricted access to prolonged intra-articular steroids, such as triamcinolone hexacetamide. In the cases of relapse after short-term IAC followed by start of MTX therapy, which lead to higher proportion of patients with JIA, treated with MTX then in Europe and North America.ObjectivesTo re-evaluate the possibility of MTX to prevent the onset of uveitis in Russian JIA cohort patients with increased proportion of applying of MTX.MethodsThe clinical charts of all consecutive patients who had received a stable management for at least 2 years with or without MTX were reviewed. Patients who were given systemic medications other than MTX (except NSAID) were excluded. Patients with systemic arthritis, rheumatoid factor-positive arthritis, or enthesitis-related arthritis were also excluded. In each patient, the al least 2-year follow-up period after first visit was examined to establish whether uveitis had occurred.ResultsA total of 281 patients with a median disease duration of 3.8 year were included. One hundred and ninety one patients (68%) were treated with MTX compare to 33.9% in previous study [1]. During the at least 2-year follow-up, 64 patients (22.8%) developed uveitis, a median of 1.6 year after the disease onset. The frequency of uveitis was lower in MTX-treated than in MTX-untreated patients (11.5% vs 46.7%, respectively, OR=6.7 (95%CI:3.7-12.3), p=0.0000001). In previous study the frequency of uveitis was 10.5 in MTX-treated vs 20.2 in MTX-untreated patients [1]. Survival analysis confirmed that patients treated with MTX had a lower probability of developing uveitis (HR=4.35, p=0.000001) (Fig.). In subgroup analysis was shown that MTX more preventive in boys (HR=6.7, p=0.0007) than in girls (HR=3.6, p=0.000001); in patient with onset age more than 5 years (HR=22.2, p=0.000001) than whom disease onset less 5 years (HR=2.3, p=0.003). The data of survival analysis of MTX prevention not shown benefits depend on number of active joints: in OA (HR=4.0, p=0.000001) similar to polyarthritis (HR=3.7, p=0.02) and ANA status: ANA-positive (HR=4.4, p=0.00002) similar to ANA-negative (HR=3.6, p=0.003).ConclusionsMTX therapy may prevent the onset of uveitis in children with JIA. Further randomized controlled trial required to confirmation our results.ReferencesPapadopoulou C, Kostik M, Bohm M, Nieto-Gonzalez JC, Gonzalez-Fernandez MI, Pistorio A, Martini A, Ravelli A. Methotrexate Therapy May Prevent the Onset of Uveitis in Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis. J Pediatr 2013;163:87...

ObjectivesHeart involvement in multisystem inflammatory syndrome associated with COVID-19 in children (MIS-C) is a new challenging problem, requiring fast and reliable diagnostics and appropriate treatment. The aim of this study is to describe heart involvement in patients with MIS-C.Study DesignIn this retrospective, multicenter cohort study, data of 122 patients were included. All patients met WHO and CDC criteria of MIS-C.ResultsVarious types of heart involvement in MIS-C patients were observed. Patients with solely coronary artery lesions (CAL, n = 10, 8.2%) had typical features of Kawasaki disease: younger age, thrombocytosis and normal ferritin level, without giant CA aneurysms, thrombosis, myocardial infarction, shock, and ICU admission. Patients with solely myocardial involvement (MI, n = 30, 24.6%) had an older onset age, elevated ferritin, LDH, the highest D-dimer, H score, and thrombocytopenia level. The following clinical signs were associated with MI: gastrointestinal and central nervous system disorder, sore throat, swelling face, splenomegaly, shock, and treatment in the intensive care unit required. Patients with a combination of CAL and MI (n = 10, 8.2%) had symptoms similar to patients with solely MI, except for impressive thrombocytopenia. Shock and ICU admission were found in 34.7% of patients without heart involvement (n = 72, 59%). One major criterion [troponin > 32 pg/ml (52 points)] or at least two minor criteria [face swelling (32 points) and D-Dimer > 1,300 ng/ml (29 points)] were associated with MI (>32 points) with a sensitivity of 67.5% and a specificity of 88.9%.ConclusionThe above-suggested criteria can be added to routine diagnostic procedures to confirm MI in MIS-C patients.