378. E-cigarette or Vaping Associated Lung Injury in the Time of COVID-19

Abstract

Background: Pediatric providers have been caring for two new and similar respiratory illnesses: E-cigarette or vaping use associated lung injury (EVALI) beginning in 2019 and Coronavirus Disease 19 (COVID-19) in 2020. Similarities include prodrome, presentation, imaging, and laboratory testing. While EVALI often improves with steroid treatment, steroids can be detrimental early in the course of COVID-19. Although a positive SARS CoV-2 polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test is helpful, this result does not definitively identify SARS CoV-2 as the primary cause of symptoms in patients with a history of vaping, as both processes may be coexistent. Coinfection with other infectious agents is commonly found in children with COVID-19 infection, and the majority of children with PCR positive SARS CoV-2 are asymptomatic or mildly symptomatic. Method(s): In hopes of better defining EVALI versus COVID-19 clinical syndromes, we reviewed charts of pediatric patients admitted to a freestanding children's hospital in Texas diagnosed with EVALI over a year period from June 1, 2019 and June 1, 2020. Cases were identified through a local patient registry. We compared findings in these cases with literature regarding pediatric patients with acute COVID-19 and EVALI. Variables included presenting symptoms, timing of symptoms, vital signs, imaging, and laboratory results. Result(s): Twelve patients with EVALI diagnosis were included. Clinical presentation, imaging, and laboratory findings were similar to those described with acute COVID-19 and are included in figures 1 and 2. Repeated interviewing regardingvaping revealed a history of vaping in all EVALI cases; frequency reported varied from multiple times daily to remote use. Some cases with EVALI also had a significant psychiatric history, positive urine drug screen, or significant weight loss prior to hospitalization. Cases with EVALI and steroid treatment improved within days of treatment. In a review of literature, BAL sampling often reveals lipoid pneumonia in EVALI cases, which would not be expected in COVID-19. Of note, the single case in our group tested did not have lipoid pneumonia on bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) cytology. Conclusion(s): Presence of prolonged preceding weight loss, or BAL cytology could help differentiate these clinical states.