No abstract

Guidelines and recommendations developed and/or endorsed by the American

Objective To provide guidance on the management of multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS‐C), a condition characterized by fever, inflammation, and multiorgan dysfunction that manifests late in the course of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS–CoV‐2) infection, and to provide recommendations for children with hyperinflammation during coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19), the acute, infectious phase of SARS–CoV‐2 infection. Methods A multidisciplinary task force was convened by the American College of Rheumatology (ACR) to provide guidance on the management of MIS‐C associated with SARS–CoV‐2 and hyperinflammation in COVID‐19. The task force was composed of 9 pediatric rheumatologists, 2 adult rheumatologists, 2 pediatric cardiologists, 2 pediatric infectious disease specialists, and 1 pediatric critical care physician. Preliminary statements addressing clinical questions related to MIS‐C and hyperinflammation in COVID‐19 were developed based on evidence reports. Consensus was built through a modified Delphi process that involved 2 rounds of anonymous voting and 2 webinars. A 9‐point scale was used to determine the appropriateness of each statement (median scores of 1–3 for inappropriate, 4–6 for uncertain, and 7–9 for appropriate), and consensus was rated as low, moderate, or high based on dispersion of the votes along the numeric scale. Approved guidance statements were those that were classified as appropriate with moderate or high levels of consensus, as prespecified prior to voting. Results The ACR task force approved a total of 128 guidance statements addressing the management of MIS‐C and hyperinflammation in pediatric COVID‐19. These statements were refined into 40 final clinical guidance statements, accompanied by a flow diagram depicting the diagnostic pathway for MIS‐C. Conclusion Our understanding of SARS–CoV‐2–related syndromes in the pediatric population continues to evolve. The guidance provided in this “living document” reflects currently available evidence, coupled with expert opinion, and will be revised as further evidence becomes available.

Objective. To provide guidance on the management of Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in Children (MIS-C), a condition characterized by fever, inflammation, and multiorgan dysfunction that manifests late in the course of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection. Recommendations are also provided for children with hyperinflammation during coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), the acute, infectious phase of SARS-CoV-2 infection. Methods. The Task Force was composed of 9 pediatric rheumatologists and 2 adult rheumatologists, 2 pediatric cardiologists, 2 pediatric infectious disease specialists, and 1 pediatric critical care physician. Preliminary statements addressing clinical questions related to MIS-C and hyperinflammation in COVID-19 were developed based on evidence reports. Consensus was built through a modified Delphi process that involved anonymous voting and webinar discussion. A 9-point scale was used to determine the appropriateness of each statement (median scores of 1-3 for inappropriate, 4-6 for uncertain, and 7-9 for appropriate). Consensus was rated as low, moderate, or high based on dispersion of the votes. Approved guidance statements were those that were classified as appropriate with moderate or high levels of consensus, which were prespecified before voting. Results. The first version of the guidance was approved in June 2020, and consisted of 40 final guidance statements accompanied by a flow diagram depicting the diagnostic pathway for MIS-C. The document was revised in November 2020, and a new flow diagram with recommendations for initial immunomodulatory treatment of MIS-C was added. Conclusion. Our understanding of SARS-CoV-2-related syndromes in the pediatric population continues to evolve. This guidance document reflects currently available evidence coupled with expert opinion, and will be revised as further evidence becomes available. Due to the rapidly expanding information and evolving evidence related to COVID-19, which may lead to modification of some guidance statements over time, it is anticipated that updated versions of this article will be published, with the version number included in the title. Readers should ensure that they are consulting the most current version. Guidance developed and/or endorsed by the American College of Rheumatology (ACR) is intended to inform particular patterns of practice and not to dictate the care of a particular patient. The ACR considers adherence to this guidance to be voluntary, with the ultimate determination regarding its application to be made by the physician in light of each patient's individual circumstances. Guidance statements are intended to promote beneficial or desirable outcomes but cannot guarantee any specific outcome. Guidance developed or endorsed by the ACR is subject to periodic revision as warranted by the evolution of medical knowledge, technology, and practice.

Objective To provide guidance on the management of Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in Children (MIS‐C), a condition characterized by fever, inflammation, and multiorgan dysfunction that manifests late in the course of SARS–CoV‐2 infection. Recommendations are also provided for children with hyperinflammation during COVID‐19, the acute, infectious phase of SARS–CoV‐2 infection. Methods The Task Force is composed of 9 pediatric rheumatologists and 2 adult rheumatologists, 2 pediatric cardiologists, 2 pediatric infectious disease specialists, and 1 pediatric critical care physician. Preliminary statements addressing clinical questions related to MIS‐C and hyperinflammation in COVID‐19 were developed based on evidence reports. Consensus was built through a modified Delphi process that involved anonymous voting and webinar discussion. A 9‐point scale was used to determine the appropriateness of each statement (median scores of 1–3 for inappropriate, 4–6 for uncertain, and 7–9 for appropriate). Consensus was rated as low, moderate, or high based on dispersion of the votes. Approved guidance statements were those that were classified as appropriate with moderate or high levels of consensus, which were prespecified before voting. Results The guidance was approved in June 2020 and updated in November 2020 and October 2021, and consists of 41 final guidance statements accompanied by flow diagrams depicting the diagnostic pathway for MIS‐C and recommendations for initial immunomodulatory treatment of MIS‐C. Conclusion Our understanding of SARS–CoV‐2–related syndromes in the pediatric population continues to evolve. This guidance document reflects currently available evidence coupled with expert opinion, and will be revised as further evidence becomes available.