Clinical Characteristics of Children With SARS-CoV-2 Infection During the Third Wave of the Pandemic: Single Center Experience.

Abstract

OBJECTIVE:

To evaluate pulmonary functions in children with transfusion-dependent thalassemia, and its reversal (lung dysfunction) using intensive intravenous chelation with desferrioxamine (DFO) (4 weeks).

METHODS:

This descriptive study enrolled 77 children with transfusion-dependent thalassemia. Pulmonary function test (PFT) and iron load (serum ferritin (SF) and T2* MRI of heart and liver) were done. PFT included spirometry, total lung capacity (TLC) by helium dilution test and diffusion capacity by carbon monoxide (DLCO). Follow-up PFT was available for 13 children with moderate to severe lung dysfunction given intravenous DFO.

RESULTS:

50 (68.8%) patients had lung dysfunction, most commonly diffusional impairment (48; 96%), and reduced TLC (11; 22%); and none had obstructive pattern. 9 (81.8%) patients with restrictive defect had moderate to severely deranged DLCO. PFT and T2* MRI values were inversely correlated with serum ferritin. Among 13 patients receiving intensive chelation for 4 weeks, significant improvement was noticed in forced expiratory volume in one minute/ forced vital capacity ratio (DFEV1/FVC) (P=0.009), DDLCO (P=0.006) and DSF (P=0.01).

CONCLUSIONS:

Pulmonary dysfunction is common in children with multi-transfused thalassemia, and routine screening by PFT needs to be part of the management guidelines.

• Authors: Mihir Sarkar, Ananya Ghosh, Mithun Chandra Konar, Oishik Roy, Manas Kumar Mahapatra, Mousumi Nandi
• Journal: Indian pediatrics (Indian Pediatr) Vol. 59 Issue 7 Pg. 531-534 (07 15 2022) ISSN: 0974-7559 [Electronic] India
• PMID: 35596647 (Publication Type: Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Ferritins

Topics

• COVID-19 (epidemiology)
• Child
• Ferritins
• Humans
• Lung (diagnostic imaging)
• Pandemics
• SARS-CoV-2
• Thalassemia
• beta-Thalassemia