Medium-vessel Vasculitis Presenting with Myalgia Following COVID-19 Moderna Vaccination

Medium-vessel vasculitis following COVID-19 moderna (mRNA-1273) vaccination and the utility of PET-CT as a diagnostic tool: a case report

There have been several case reports of COVID-19 "BNT162b2" (Pfizer-BioNTech) and "mRNA-1273" (Moderna) vaccination associated small and medium vessel vasculitis described in the literature however none have had 18F-FDG Positron Emission Tomography scans (PET/CT) performed for diagnosis. We report the case of a 57-year-old Caucasian male patient from Australia where 18F-FDG PET/CT scanning facilitated early detection of a medium-vessel vasculitis following Moderna (mRNA-1273) COVID-19 vaccination. The diagnosis would otherwise have been difficult and allowed exclusion of alternative diagnoses and sparing of more invasive investigations such as muscle biopsy. Our case highlights the development of a medium vessel vasculitis following mRNA based COVID-19 vaccination and demonstrates the utility of 18F-FDG PET/CT as an excellent non-invasive test for the detection of this serious rare and often difficult to diagnose condition.

COVID-19 vaccine-associated vasculitis: A systematic review

Objectives

Post-COVID-19 vaccine-associated vasculitis stands as one of the most serious side effects attributed to COVID-19 vaccines. This complication encompasses diverse manifestations which vary in presentation and severity. Moreover, it can impact patients across all age groups, with a notably elevated incidence in the elderly. This systematic review seeks to review and evaluate the spectrum of vasculitis manifestations linked to COVID-19 vaccination.

Methods

A systematic review of the literature was done by searching through PubMed, Google Scholar, and Scopus up to October 2022. Articles including data about sex, age at diagnosis, vasculitis clinical manifestations, type of vaccination, most commonly used investigations, comorbid medical conditions, treatments, and clinical outcomes were included in the final analysis. Furthermore, vasculitis flare-ups post-vaccination were considered part of this review.

Results

A total number of 117 studies describing 158 patients developing vasculitis following COVID-19 vaccination were included in the final analysis. Among the patients who developed vasculitis, the most administered type of vaccination was the mRNA vaccine subtype (n = 103), followed by the viral vector vaccines (n = 42) and inactivated viral vaccines (n = 10). On the other hand, about 38% of vasculitis-related symptoms occurred after the administration of the first dose of the vaccine and 37% occurred after taking the second dose. The skin (60.7%) and the kidneys (27.8%) were the most affected organs and complete remission was achieved in 111 patients (70%), while partial remission occurred in 11% of the patient population.

Conclusion

COVID-19 vaccine-induced vasculitis is a rare occurrence associated with COVID-19 vaccines. It generally presents a favorable prognosis and outcomes for the vast majority of patients, ultimately leading to full remission within days. This review emphasizes the notion that the advantages of COVID-19 vaccines outweigh the potential risks, particularly for individuals with compromised immune systems.

Post COVID-19 vaccination medium vessel vasculitis: a systematic review of case reports

PURPOSE

Vaccinations are essential in minimizing the effects of global health crises including COVID-19 pandemic. This study investigates the potential association between COVID-19 vaccination and the occurrence of medium vessel vasculitis.

METHODS

Several databases were utilized to conduct a comprehensive literature review. The studies were carefully evaluated to ensure their quality and eliminate any potential bias.

RESULTS

After reviewing 935 search results and removing duplicates, we selected 10 case reports. We discovered that medium vessel vasculitis may occur after COVID-19 vaccination, typically appearing around 16.2 days after vaccination. The patients in the study had a median age of 43.5 years and were predominantly males (80%). Additionally, half of the cases were reported after the second dose of vaccination.

CONCLUSIONS

Vaccination-associated vasculitis is a rare yet possible complication of COVID-19 vaccination and lacks a clear treatment protocol.

Polyarteritis Nodosa: Old Disease, New Etiologies

Polyarteritis nodosa (PAN), also known as panarteritis nodosa, represents a form of necrotizing vasculitis that predominantly affects medium-sized vessels, although it is not restricted to them and can also involve smaller vessels. The clinical presentation is heterogeneous and characterized by a significant number of patients exhibiting general symptoms, including asthenia, fever, and unintended weight loss. Although PAN can involve virtually any organ, it preferentially affects the skin, nervous system, and the gastrointestinal tract. Orchitis is a rare but specific manifestation of PAN. The absence of granulomas, glomerulonephritis, and anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies serves to distinguish PAN from other types of vasculitis. Major complications consist of hemorrhagic and thrombotic events occurring in mesenteric, cardiac, cerebral, and renal systems. Historically, PAN was frequently linked to hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection, but this association has dramatically changed in recent years due to declining HBV prevalence. Current epidemiological research often identifies a connection between PAN and genetic syndromes as well as neoplasia. This article provides a comprehensive review of PAN, specifically focusing on the progression of its clinical manifestations over time.

New-Onset Rheumatic Immune-Mediated Inflammatory Diseases Following SARS-CoV-2 Vaccinations until May 2023: A Systematic Review

A comprehensive, up-to-date systematic review (SR) of the new-onset rheumatic immune-mediated inflammatory diseases (R-IMIDs) following COVID-19 vaccinations is lacking. Therefore, we investigated the demographics, management, and prognosis of new R-IMIDs in adults following SARS-CoV-2 vaccinations. A systematic literature search of Medline, Embase, Google Scholar, LitCovid, and Cochrane was conducted. We included any English-language study that reported new-onset R-IMID in adults following the post-COVID-19 vaccination. A total of 271 cases were reported from 39 countries between January 2021 and May 2023. The mean age of patients was 56 (range 18-90), and most were females (170, 62.5%). Most (153, 56.5%) received the Pfizer BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine. Nearly 50% of patients developed R-IMID after the second dose of the vaccine. Vasculitis was the most prevalent clinical presentation (86, 31.7%), followed by connective tissue disease (66, 24.3%). The mean duration between the vaccine's 'trigger' dose and R-IMID was 11 days. Most (220, 81.2%) received corticosteroids; however, 42% (115) received DMARDs such as methotrexate, cyclophosphamide, tocilizumab, anakinra, IV immunoglobulins, plasma exchange, or rituximab. Complete remission was achieved in 75 patients (27.7%), and 137 (50.6%) improved following the treatment. Two patients died due to myositis. This SR highlights that SARS-CoV-2 vaccines may trigger R-IMID; however, further epidemiology studies are required.

Polyarteritis nodosa in a patient with chronic hepatitis B following COVID-19 vaccination: a case report

Different types of vasculitis have been reported after various vaccine administrations. Recently, the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccine was one of the most common vaccine-induced vasculitis. Herein, we describe a 56-year-old male patient with chronic hepatitis B who presented with abdominal pain for 2 days, which was associated with vomiting and bloody diarrhea. He had a history of petechial rash for 25 days, multiple joint pain and lower limb weakness after the second dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. A skin biopsy showed medium-sized vessel vasculitis. Polyarteritis nodosa (PAN) was diagnosed depending on the American College of Rheumatology criteria. He was treated with steroids, plasmapheresis and antiviral medication with a good prognosis. In patients with a past medical history of chronic hepatitis B, the covid vaccine may be associated with an increased risk of developing a PAN, so clinicians should suspect the occurrence of this disease after COVID-19 vaccination.