During the COVID-19 pandemic, a small minority of children have been presenting to acute paediatric services with a new syndrome, Paediatric Inflammatory Multisystem Syndrome temporally associated with SARS-Cov-2 (PIMS-TS). Children with PIMS-TS present with symptoms of inflammation caused by the immune system going into overdrive - this is likely to be in response to the virus. More severe cases involve inflammation and damage to the heart. The focus of this project is to identify children with milder forms of PIMS-TS who are at risk of progression to more severe disease. Being able to predict the disease course of PIMS-TS at an early stage is important as it will allow clinicians to decide which patients should be treated with immunosuppressants, which have been shown to reduce the severity of the illness but have side effects. Early data suggests that children with PIMS-TS have elevated biomarkers associated with an over-reaction of the body's immune system (also known as a 'cytokine storm') reaction. This study will explore whether children presenting with milder PIMS-TS have elevated 'cytokine storm' blood profiles and whether these profiles differ between children who continue to have a mild disease course compared to those who develop severe disease.
Age range
3 Months – 16 Years
Sex
ALL
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A starting point for the conversation — always confirm anything about your own eligibility, costs, and care with the study team and your doctor.
Blood biomarker associated with a cytokine storm - Pro-Beta Natriuretic Peptide (measured in pg/mL).
Timeframe: From date of admission to date of discharge from hospital assessed up to 18 months
Blood biomarker associated with a cytokine storm - Ferritin (measured in µg/L)
Timeframe: From date of admission to date of discharge from hospital assessed up to 18 months
Blood Biomarker associated with a cytokine storm - C-Reactive Protein (measured in mg/L)
Timeframe: From date of admission to date of discharge from hospital assessed up to 18 months