2D Speckle Tracking Strain Echocardiography in Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in Children: A Multicenter Analysis From the MUSIC Study

Authors

Francesca Sperotto, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA
Valiantsina Kazlova, Carelon Research, Newton, MA
Felicia L. Trachtenberg, Carelon Research, Newton, MA
Dongngan T. Truong, University of Utah and Primary Children's Hospital, Salt Lake City, UT
Sanjeev Aggarwal, Children's Hospital of Michigan, Detroit, MI
Joseph R. Block, Children's Hospital of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI
Tamara T. Bradford, LSU Health Sciences Center - New OrleansFollow
Sujatha Buddhe, University of Stanford, Palo Alto, CA
Audrey Dionne, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA
Andreea Dragulescu, The Sick Kids Children's Hospital, Toronto, Canada
Kanwal M. Farooqi, Columbia University, New York, NY
Daniel E. Forsha, University of Missouri, Kansas City, MO
Therese M. Giglia, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA
Ian F. Golding, Rady Children's Hospital, San Diego, CA
Keren Hasbani, University of Texas, Austin, TX
Pei-Ni Jone, Lurie Children's Hospital, Chicago, IL
Anita Krishnan, George Washington University, Washington D.C.
Sean M. Lang, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH
Carol A. McFarland, University of Utah and Primary Children's Hospital, Salt Lake City, UT
Elizabeth C. Mitchell, Northwell Health, New Hyde Park, NY
Elias Moussi Saad, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX
Todd T. Nowlen, Phoenix Children's Hospital, Phoenix, AZ
Ricardo H. Pignatelli, Texas Children's Hospital, Austin, TX
Scott Pletzer, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC
Ryan Serrano, Riley Hospital for Children, Indianapolis, IN
Divya Shakti, University of Mississippi, Jackson, MS
Shubhika Srivastava, Nemours Children's Hospital, Wilmington, DE
Thor Thorsson, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI
Jodie K. Votava-Smith, Children's Hospital Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA
et al

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

9-3-2025

Publication Title

Circulation: Cardiovascular Imaging

Abstract

BACKGROUND: 2D-speckle tracking echocardiography may help detect subclinical ventricular dysfunction, but data in multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C) are scarce. We investigated left ventricular (LV) strain parameters in MIS-C and their association with outcomes. METHODS: We performed an ambi-directional, 32-center cohort study on hospitalized patients with MIS-C (March 2020-November 2021) with at least 1 echocardiogram read by the Core Lab. Generalized estimating equation modeling was used to test associations between LV strain and a composite in-hospital adverse cardiovascular outcome (vasoactive support, arrhythmias, cardiac arrest, extracorporeal support, death, or heart transplant). RESULTS: Of 349 patients (median age, 8.7 years [interquartile range, 5.3-12.9]), 35% had decreased LV ejection fraction during hospitalization, and 45% had depressed LV strain (either 4-chamber LV longitudinal strain [4CH-LVLS] or mid-ventricular LV circumferential strain [mid-LVCS]). The worst 4CH-LVLS and mid-LVCS occurred at ≈5 days of illness; 50% of abnormal LV strain normalized within 1 week, and 95% within 50 days. In-hospital adverse outcomes occurred in 35% of patients; these patients were older (P=0.003) and, at admission, had more likely abnormal troponin (P < 0.001) higher C-reactive protein (P < 0.001), higher indexed LV end-diastolic volume (P < 0.001) and mass (P=0.015), worse LV ejection fraction (P < 0.001), and worse LV strain (4CH-LVLS, P=0.002; mid-LVCS, P=0.001). Covariate-adjusted individual models for each strain parameter showed that 4CH-LVLS (adjusted odds ratio, 1.09 [95% CI, 1.07-1.12]), mid-LVCS (adjusted odds ratio, 1.06 [95% CI, 1.04-1.09]), worst LV strain Z score between 4CH-LVLS and mid-LVCS (adjusted odds ratio, 1.30 [95% CI, 1.21-1.41]), and early diastolic longitudinal strain rate (adjusted odds ratio, 1.68 [95% CI, 1.26-2.23]) at admission were found to be associated with adverse outcomes. CONCLUSIONS: About half of patients with MIS-C had abnormal LV strain during hospitalization. 4CH-LVLS, mid-LVCS, the most abnormal strain Z score, and early diastolic longitudinal strain rate at admission were independently associated with in-hospital adverse cardiovascular outcome. These data may help early characterization and prognostication in MIS-C.

First Page

e017620

PubMed ID

40899279

Volume

18

Issue

9

Rights

© 2025 American Heart Association, Inc.

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