Title:De Novo Vasculitis after COVID-19 Vaccination
Volume: 19
Issue: 2
Author(s): Xiaoxiao Tang, Fei Liu, Qiuyu Li, Haidong Fu, Jingjing Wang and Jianhua Mao*
Affiliation:
- Department of Nephrology, The Children's Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, National Clinical Research Center for Child Health, National Children's Regional Medical Center, Hangzhou, China
Keywords:
COVID-19, vaccine, vaccination, vasculitis, glomerulonephritis, immunization.
Abstract:
Background: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic continues to spread
around the world. Vaccinations have been administered globally and have been proven to be safe
and effective. However, vasculitis has been reported as an adverse event occurring after COVID-19
vaccination.
Methods: In this review, we analyzed the literature to identify original articles that reported on patients
who developed vasculitis following COVID-19 vaccination and summarized their clinical
manifestations. PubMed and Web of Knowledge were searched to identify relevant studies.
Results: A total of 27 patients who developed vasculitis following COVID-19 vaccination were
identified from 21 studies. The involved organs included the skin and kidney. The main clinical features
of patients whose skin was affected were papules, maculopapular rashes, and plaques. Most of
the patients exhibited small vessel vasculitis and single-organ vasculitis; these were resolved within
one month. Patients whose kidneys were affected exhibited vasculitis, including anti-neutrophil
cytoplasmic antibody glomerulonephritis and IgA nephritis. Most patients were treated with corticosteroid,
rituximab, and cyclophosphamide, and one patient needed hemodialysis. The renal function
of most patients was improved or recovered, but one patient needed maintenance dialysis.
Conclusion: Vasculitis was rarely reported after COVID-19 vaccine administration. It often manifested
as cutaneous small-vessel vasculitis or glomerulonephritis. Notably, when a patient demonstrates
hematuria, proteinuria, and acute kidney injury after COVID-19 vaccination, there is a possibility
that the patient could have developed vasculitis. Skin-related problems were quickly resolved,
while kidney-related problems may progress to chronic kidney disease.
