[Clinical feature of severe hand, foot and mouth disease with acute pulmonary edema in pediatric patients].

OBJECTIVE

To explore the clinical feature of severe hand, foot and mouth disease (HFMD) in pediatric patients, and to observe the hemodynamic changes in those with acute pulmonary edema.

METHODS

A prospective observation study was conducted. Thirty-five severe HFMD pediatric patients with acute pulmonary edema admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) and Department of Pediatric of First People's Hospital of Foshan from May 2008 to September 2014 were enrolled. The clinical features were thoroughly investigated. Hemodynamic data were monitored by pulse-indicated continuous cardiac output (PiCCO) in 5 cases, and the changes in PiCCO parameters were observed at ICU admission (0 hour), and 24, 48, 96 hours after treatment.

RESULTS

Thirty-five patients who met the diagnostic standard of severe HFMD were enrolled, including 22 male and 13 female, aged from 7 months to 4 years. Six patients were younger than 1 year, 13 1-2 years, 12 2-3 years, and 4 patients 3-4 years old. The most common time of occurrence of pulmonary edema was 3-4 days after the onset of the disease. Fever and central nervous system symptoms were found in all the patients, and examination of the cerebral spinal fluid (CSF) revealed non-bacterial inflammatory changes. PiCCO results showed a tendency of lowering of heart rate (HR), systemic vascular resistance index (SVRI), and extravascular lung water index (EVLWI) after the treatment, and the values obtained at 96 hours were significantly lower than those at 0 hour [HR (bpm): 119.0±14.7 vs. 200.8±19.7, SVRI (kPa×s×L(-1)×m(-2)): 148.9±14.6 vs. 209.6±58.7, EVLWI (mL/kg): 10.5±1.9 vs. 34.8±10.8, P<0.05 or P<0.01], global end-diastolic volume index (GEDVI) was also gradually decreased without significant differences among all the time points, together with a tendency of increase in stroke volume index (SI) and cardiac index (CI). The values of the parameters at 96 hours were significantly higher than those at 0 hour [SI (mL/m2): 38.5±6.5 vs. 17.4±2.8, CI (mL×s(-1)×m(-2)): 75.0±8.0 vs. 55.5±8.5, both P<0.01]. Left atrium was found to be enlarged, and left ventricular systolic function decreased in two patients by cardiac ultrasonic. Four out of 35 patients died, and functional disability of extremities was found in 1 patient. Other patients were cured and discharged without any sequelae.

CONCLUSIONS

Severe HFMD complicated by acute pulmonary edema is a perilous condition in children, accompanied commonly by pathologic changes in central nervous system and systolic dysfunction of left ventricle. According to the results with PiCCO monitoring, HFMD patients suffering from acute pulmonary edema may be of cardiac origin in addition to neurogenic origin.