Kawasaki disease (KD) and multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C) in a Middle Eastern patient cohort.

OBJECTIVE: This is a comprehensive characteristic study of Kawasaki disease (KD) and Multi system inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C) in the Middle East that creates a formula to differentiate between the two. METHODS: We conducted a descriptive comparative study of KD and MIS-C in the United Arab Emirates. Retrospective MIS-C and KD cohorts were recruited between January 2017 until August 2021.We compared clinical and laboratory characteristics between both groups. Our data were compared with 87 patients with KD or MIS-C from the literature. RESULTS: We report on123 patients. Sixty-seven (54%) met the criteria for KD (36 male, 43 Arab), and fifty-six (46%) met the criteria for MIS-C (28 male, 35 Arab). The median age was 2.2 years range (0.15-10.7) in the KD group and 7.3 years (0.7-15.2) in the MIS-C group (P < 0.001). The clinical features on admission showed an increase in gastrointestinal manifestations in MIS-C compared with KD (84% vs. 31%, P < 0.001). Laboratory tests on admission revealed a significant increase in the following tests in KD compared with MIS-C; white blood cells (mean 16.30 10(3) µcL vs. 11.56 10(3) µcL, P < 0.001), absolute neutrophils (mean 10.72 10(3) µcL vs. 8.21 10(3) µcL, P 0.008), absolute lymphocytes (mean 3.92 10(3) µcL vs. 2.59 10(3) µcL, P 0.003), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (mean 73 mm/hr vs. 51 mm/hr, P < 0.001) and platelets (median {390 10(3) µcL vs. 236 10(3) µcL, P < 0.001}). In contrast, procalcitonin and ferritin were increased in the MIS-C group (2.4 )ng/mL, 370 ng/mL; P < 0.001). Cardiac dysfunction and admission to the pediatric intensive care unit were higher in MIS-C than in KD (21% vs. 8% and 33% vs. 7.5%, respectively, P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: This study showed vast similarities between KD and MIS-C, suggesting that they lie along the same clinical spectrum. However, there are several differences between the two disease entities suggesting that MIS-C most likely represents a new severe variant of KD. Based on our findings in this study, we created a formula to differentiate between KD and MIS-C.

The genomic landscape of rare disorders in the Middle East.

BACKGROUND: Rare diseases collectively impose a significant burden on healthcare systems, especially in underserved regions, like the Middle East, which lack access to genomic diagnostic services and the associated personalized management plans. METHODS: We established a clinical genomics and genetic counseling facility, within a multidisciplinary tertiary pediatric center, in the United Arab Emirates to locally diagnose and manage patients with rare diseases. Clinical genomic investigations included exome-based sequencing, chromosomal microarrays, and/or targeted testing. We assessed the diagnostic yield and implications for clinical management among this population. Variables were compared using the Fisher exact test. Tests were 2-tailed, and P < .05 was considered statistically significant. RESULTS: We present data on 1000 patients with rare diseases (46.2% females; average age, 4.6 years) representing 47 countries primarily from the Arabian Peninsula, the Levant, Africa, and Asia. The cumulative diagnostic yield was 32.5% (95% CI, 29.7-35.5%) and was higher for genomic sequencing-based testing than chromosomal microarrays (37.9% versus 17.2%, P = 0.0001) across all indications, consistent with the higher burden of single gene disorders. Of the 221 Mendelian disorders identified in this cohort, the majority (N = 184) were encountered only once, and those with recessive inheritance accounted for ~ 62% of sequencing diagnoses. Of patients with positive genetic findings (N = 325), 67.7% were less than 5 years of age, and 60% were offered modified management and/or intervention plans. Interestingly, 24% of patients with positive genetic findings received delayed diagnoses (average age, 12.4 years; range 7-37 years), most likely due to a lack of access to genomic investigations in this region. One such genetic finding ended a 15-year-long diagnostic odyssey, leading to a life-threatening diagnosis in one patient, who was then successfully treated using an experimental allogenic bone marrow transplant. Finally, we present cases with candidate genes within regions of homozygosity, likely underlying novel recessive disorders. CONCLUSIONS: Early access to genomic diagnostics for patients with suspected rare disorders in the Middle East is likely to improve clinical outcomes while driving gene discovery in this genetically underrepresented population.

Incidence of Down syndrome in Dubai, UAE.

OBJECTIVE: To describe incidence of Down syndrome in Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE). SUBJECTS AND METHODS: A total of 63,398 newborn babies in Dubai (24,250 UAE nationals and 39,148 non-UAE) during a 5-year period of 1999-2003 were routinely examined by experienced nurses, neonatologists, pediatricians and/or general practitioners for symptoms of Down syndrome. Those suspected with Down syndrome were referred to the cytogenetic laboratory for karyotyping. RESULTS: A total of 141 cases were confirmed cytogenetically as Down syndrome. Of these, 139 were trisomy 21 and of the remaining 2, 1 was a translocation and the other a mosaic. Theoverall incidence of Down syndrome in Dubai was 1/449 live births (2.2 per 1,000); 1/319 live births (3.13 per 1,000) among UAE nationals and 1/602 live births (1.66 per 1,000) among non-UAE nationals. The mean maternal age of UAE national mothers was 33.48 +/- 8.08, with 41.66% of the mothers being in the advanced maternal age group (>35 years). The higher incidence of Down syndrome among UAE nationals is comparable to incidences reported for other Arab populations in the Middle Eastern region. Advanced maternal age, with mothers bearing children until their 50s and higher parity, appear to be the major contributing factors for the increased incidence. CONCLUSION: The study indicates the need to provide efficient genetic counseling and to introduce an effective antenatal screening program and prenatal diagnostic services to reduce the psychological and genetic burden on the families and community.