Two cases of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) after administration of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) vaccine

The onset of de novo autoantibodies in healthcare workers after mRNA based anti-SARS-CoV-2 vaccines: a single centre prospective follow-up study

Nowadays, data concerning the risk of autoimmune disease after SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) vaccination is controversial. The aim of this single centre prospective follow-up study was to evaluate whether healthcare workers (HCWs) vaccinated with BNT162b2 mRNA and mRNA-1273 will show a development and/or a persistence of autoantibodies, focussing on the detection of antibodies against nuclear antigens (antinuclear antibodies, ANA). We enrolled 155 HCWs, however only 108 of them received the third dose and were considered for further analysis. Blood samples were collected before vaccine inoculation (T0), at 3 (T1) and 12 months (T2) after the first dose. All samples were analysed for the presence of a) ANA using indirect Immunofluorescence [IIF] (dilutions of 1:80, 1:160. 1:320 and 1:640), and anti-smooth muscle antibodies (ASMA); b) anti-myeloperoxidase (anti-MPO), anti-proteinase 3 (anti-PR3) and anti-citrullinated peptide antibodies (aCCP) [FEIA]; c) anti-phospholipid antibodies (anticardiolipin [aCL], anti-beta-2- glycoprotein I [anti-ß-2GPI] (Chemiluminescence). Line-blot technology was performed using the following kit: EUROLINE ANA profile 3 plus DFS70 (IgG). Our research suggests that mRNA based anti-SARSCoV-2 vaccines can induce the production of de novo ANA in 22/77(28,57%) of subjects and that the percentage of positivity seems to be directly correlated to the number of vaccine expositions: 6/77 (7,79%) after 2 doses; 16/77 (20,78%) after 3 doses. Since it is known that hyperstimulation of the immune system could lead to autoimmunity, these preliminary results seem to further sustain the idea that the hyperstimulation of the immune system might lead to an autoinflammatory mechanism and eventually to autoimmune disorders. However, the link between SARS-CoV-2 vaccination and the development of autoimmune diseases needs to be further investigated.

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.

New-onset acute psychosis as a manifestation of lupus cerebritis following concomitant COVID-19 infection and vaccination: a rare case report

BACKGROUND

Rare cases of COVID-19 infection- and vaccine-triggered autoimmune diseases have been separately reported in the literature. In this paper, we report the first and unique case of new onset acute psychosis as a manifestation of lupus cerebritis following concomitant COVID-19 infection and vaccination in a previously healthy 26-year-old Tunisian female.

CASE PRESENTATION

A 26-years old female with a family history of a mother diagnosed with schizophrenia, and no personal medical or psychiatric history, was diagnosed with mild COVID-19 infection four days after receiving the second dose of Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine. One month after receiving the vaccine, she presented to the psychiatric emergency department with acute psychomotor agitation, incoherent speech and total insomnia evolving for five days. She was firstly diagnosed with a brief psychotic disorder according to the DSM-5, and was prescribed risperidone (2 mg/day). On the seventh day of admission, she reported the onset of severe asthenia with dysphagia. Physical examination found fever, tachycardia, and multiple mouth ulcers. Neurological evaluation revealed a dysarthria with left hemiparesis. On laboratory tests, she had severe acute kidney failure, proteinuria, high CRP values, and pancytopenia. Immune tests identified the presence of antinuclear antibodies. Brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) revealed hyperintense signals in the left fronto-parietal lobes and the cerebellum. The patient was diagnosed with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and put on anti-SLE drugs and antipsychotics, with a favorable evolution.

CONCLUSIONS

The chronological relationship between COVID-19 infection, vaccination and the first lupus cerebritis manifestations is highly suggestive, albeit with no certainty, of the potential causal link. We suggest that precautionary measures should be taken to decrease the risk of SLE onset or exacerbation after COVID-19 vaccination, including a systematic COVID-19 testing before vaccination in individuals with specific predisposition.