Histopathological findings of pericarditis in a patient with multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children associated with COVID-19: A case report

Pathol Int. 2023 Feb;73(2):91-96. doi: 10.1111/pin.13304. Epub 2022 Dec 28.

Abstract

Multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C), which is associated with the novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), has been described as an inflammatory complication of exposure to the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). It carries a risk of serious and lethal complications, including cardiogenic shock. Here, we report the pathological findings of the pericardium in a 10-year-old child with MIS-C, who developed pericarditis-induced cardiac tamponade. In the patient's pericardium, the numbers of infiltrating CD68+ macrophages; CD3+ , CD4+ , and CD8+ T cells; and myeloperoxidase+ granulocytes were increased, although the number of CD20+ B cells was not. These findings provide a clue to understanding the pathophysiology of MIS-C.

Keywords: MIS-C; SARS-CoV-2; cardiac tamponade; pericarditis.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes
  • COVID-19* / complications
  • Child
  • Humans
  • Pericarditis*
  • SARS-CoV-2
  • Systemic Inflammatory Response Syndrome

Supplementary concepts

  • pediatric multisystem inflammatory disease, COVID-19 related