Despoina Maritsi (Greece)

Greek Paediatric Rheumatology Society Second Department of Paediatrics, National and Kapodestrian University of Athens

My name is Despoina Maritsi and I am a Consultant Paediatric Rheumatologist. Following graduation from Athens Medical School, National and Kapodestrian University of Athens (NKUA), I completed my core training in Paediatrics and my subspecialty training in Paediatric and Adolescent Rheumatology in London, United Kingdom. Since then, I have been working as a Paediatric Rheumatologist in the Second Department of Academic Pediatrics, Athens Medical School (NKUA). I am a member of the Royal College of Pediatrics (MRCPCH) and hold an MSc and a PhD. My fields of special interest are autoinflammatory diseases as well as immunizations and infections in children with rheumatic diseases. I am an active member of the European Society of Pediatric Rheumatology (PRES), head of the education pillar for the PRES Vaccination Working Party and member of the PRES Education Committee for training in Pediatric Rheumatology. I participate in various EU and non-EU funded international research projects and registries including DIAMONDS. I also serve as the general secretary of the Greek Paediatric Rheumatology Society.

Author Of 2 Presentations

Conference Calendar

Case 2 - Intravenous Administration of IL-1B Blocker with Excellent Results in a Case Of MIS-C

Date

Thu, 12.05.2022

Session Time

07:00 - 07:50

Session Type

Meet The Experts

Session Name

0530 - MEET THE EXPERT: Management of COVID-19 (ID 77)

Room

BANQUETING HALL

Presenter

Despoina Maritsi (Greece)

Lecture Time

07:27 - 07:49

CHARACTERISTICS OF CHILDREN HOSPITALIZED WITH MIS-C DURING THREE PANDEMIC WAVES IN GREECE

Date

Wed, 11.05.2022

Session Time

13:40 - 15:10

Session Type

Joint Symposium

Session Name

0385 - JOINT SYMPOSIUM: PIDS-ESPID (ID 59)

Room

BANQUETING HALL

Presenter

IRINI ELEFTHERIOU (Greece)

Lecture Time

14:50 - 14:58

Abstract

Abstract

Backgrounds:

The Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in Children (MIS-C) is a rare but potentially severe complication of COVID-19.

Methods

This is a retrospective observational study of children aged <18 years hospitalized with MIS-C in 10 tertiary hospitals in Greece during three pandemic waves characterized by different SARS-CoV-2 variant: i. from August 2020 to January 2021 (EU1-B.1.177), ii. from February 2021 to July 2021 (Alpha-B.1.1.7) and iii. from August 2021 to December 2021 (Delta-B.1.617.2). The aim of the study was to document the incidence over time, clinical characteristics and outcome of children admitted with MIS-C in Greek hospitals during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Results:

table 1.jpg

In total, 119 patients were included, 91.6% (109/119) met the WHO criteria of MIS-C diagnosis: 26.9% (32/119), 39.5% (47/119) and 33.6% (40/119) were hospitalized during the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd study period, respectively. Demographic and clinical characteristics are shown in Table 1. No cases were found before October 2020. The incidence of MIS-C significantly decreased over the three waves from 3.3/1000 to 0.25/1000 confirmed COVID-19 cases (P <0.0001). No other significant difference was observed in the clinical manifestations and disease severity of children hospitalized with MIS-C over the three waves.

Conclusions/Learning Points:

This study indicates that the incidence of MIS-C may vary according to the predominant variant. Outcome remains favourable regardless of the variant leading to MIS-C. Larger studies are needed to clarify if clinical characteristics and/or disease severity may differ, as well.

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