Case Report: Multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children with associated proximal tubular injury

Front Nephrol. 2023 Jun 19:3:1194989. doi: 10.3389/fneph.2023.1194989. eCollection 2023.

Abstract

Introduction: SARS-CoV-2 infection in the pediatric population can be associated with a multiorgan inflammatory syndrome called children's multisystem inflammatory syndrome (MIS-C). The kidneys can be affected by a broad spectrum of possible injuries, whose pathogenetic mechanisms are still unclear.Case report: We report the case of a 5-year-old boy with severe cardiac involvement in the context of MIS-C. After two weeks of hospitalization, an abdominal ultrasound showed massive bladder "debris", followed by the onset of normoglycemic glycosuria. Over time, there was a progressive increase in glycosuria, and the presence of a mat of amorphous phosphate crystals was evidenced on urinary sediment. Together with the findings of hypo-uricemia, increased urinary uric acid, and globally increased urinary amino acids, a clinical picture of kidney proximal tubular damage with secondary Fanconi-like syndrome took shape.

Discussion: This case report describes the case of a patient with MIS-C with cardiac and kidney involvement characterized by proximal tubular damage, which slowly improved but still persisted at the 8-month follow-up. The pathogenesis of the damage is unclear and probably multifactorial.

Keywords: Fanconi syndrome; MIS-C multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children; SARS – CoV – 2; bladder debris; kidney injury; proximal tubule injury.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

Grants and funding

The APC was supported by Italian Ministry of Health “Ricerca Corrente” Annual Program 2023. The funder had no role in the preparation, review, or approval of the manuscript nor in the decision to submit the manuscript for publication.