Glomerulonephritis after recombinant hepatitis B vaccine

Vaccines and nephrotic syndrome: efficacy and safety

Vaccines represent the most important medical evolution in the last two centuries allowing prevention and formally eradication of a wide number of infectious diseases. Safety and effectiveness are main issues that still require an open discussion. A few clinical reports described a critical temporal relationship between vaccination and acute nephrotic syndrome, indirectly suggesting an association. For this review, the literature was reviewed to identify articles reporting associations of nephrotic syndrome with vaccines against a vast array of infectious diseases (including bacteria, virus and Sars-Cov-2). As specific aims, we evaluated effectiveness and safety in terms of occurrence of either "de novo" nephrotic syndrome in health subjects or "relapse" in those already affected by the disease. In total, 377 articles were found; 166 duplicates and 71 non-full text, animal studies or non-English language were removed. After excluding another 50 articles not containing relevant data on generic side effects or on relapses or new onset nephrotic syndrome, 90 articles met the search criteria. Overall, studies reported the effect of vaccines in 1015 patients, plus 4 nationwide epidemiologic investigations. Limited experience on vaccination of NS patients with measles, mumps, and rubella live attenuated vaccines does not allow any definitive conclusion on their safeness. VZV has been administered more frequently without side effects. Vaccines utilizing virus inactivated, recombinant, and toxoid can be utilized without risks in NS. Vaccines for influenza reduce the risk of infections during the pandemic and are associated with reduced risk of relapse of NS typically induced by the infection. Vaccines for SARS-CoV-2 (all kinds) offer a concrete approach to reduce the pandemic. "De novo" NS or recurrence are very rare and respond to common therapies.

Systemic polyarteritis nodosa following hepatitis B vaccination

The authors report a patient who developed systemic polyarteritis nodosa two months after hepatitis B vaccination and review the literature concerning this vaccination and the development of autoimmune conditions, mainly vasculitis. A 14-year-old boy who had no relevant previous history and who was not taking any drugs presented with a livedo reticularis, fever, loss of weight, testicular pain, and paresthesias two months after receiving the third dose of a hepatitis B vaccination. Inflammatory parameters (ESR and CRP) were high. The patient met the ACR diagnostic criteria for polyarteritis nodosa. He received corticosteroids and immunosuppressants and showed improvement. After reviewing the 27 cases of vasculitis after hepatitis B vaccination reported in the current literature, the authors suggest that, in some cases, vaccination may be the triggering factor for vasculitis in individuals with a genetic predisposition. Physicians should be aware of this possible association.

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A case-control study of serious autoimmune adverse events following hepatitis B immunization

Hepatitis B infection is one of the most important causes of acute and chronic liver disease. During the 1980s, genetically engineered hepatitis B vaccines (HBVs) were introduced in the United States. A large-series of serious autoimmune conditions have been reported following HBVs, despite the fact that HBVs have been reported to be "generally well-tolerated." A case-control epidemiological study was conducted to evaluate serious autoimmune adverse events prospectively reported to the vaccine adverse events reporting system (VAERS) database following HBVs, in comparison to an age, sex, and vaccine year matched unexposed tetanus-containing vaccine (TCV) group for conditions that have been previously identified on an a priori basis from case-reports. Adults receiving HBV had significantly increased odds ratios (OR) for multiple sclerosis (OR = 5.2, p < 0.0003, 95% Confidence Interval (CI) = 1.9 - 20), optic neuritis (OR = 14, p < 0.0002, 95% CI = 2.3 - 560), vasculitis (OR = 2.6, p < 0.04, 95% CI = 1.03 - 8.7), arthritis (OR = 2.01, p < 0.0003, 95% CI = 1.3 - 3.1), alopecia (OR = 7.2, p < 0.0001, 95% CI = 3.2 - 20), lupus erythematosus (OR = 9.1, p < 0.0001, 95% CI = 2.3 - 76), rheumatoid arthritis (OR = 18, p < 0.0001, 95% CI = 3.1 - 740), and thrombocytopenia (OR = 2.3, p < 0.04, 95% CI = 1.02 - 6.2) in comparison to the TCV group. Minimal confounding or systematic error was observed. Despite the negative findings of the present study regarding the rare serious adverse effects of HBVs, it is clear that HBV does, indeed, offer significant benefits, but it is also clear that chances of exposure to hepatitis B virus in adults is largely life-style dependent. Adults should make an informed consent decision, weighing the risks and benefits of HBV, as to whether or not to be immunized.

Vaccines for viral diseases with dermatologic manifestations

Vaccines against infectious diseases have been available since the 1800s, when an immunization strategy against smallpox developed by Jenner gained wide acceptance. Until recently, the only vaccination strategies available involved the use of protein-based, whole killed, and attenuated live virus vaccines. These strategies have led to the development of effective vaccines against a variety of diseases with primary or prominent cutaneous manifestations. Effective and safe vaccines now used worldwide include those directed against measles and rubella (now commonly used together with a mumps vaccine as the trivalent MMR), chickenpox, and hepatitis B. The eradication of naturally occurring smallpox remains one of the greatest successes in the history of modern medicine, but stockpiles of live smallpox exist in the United States and Russia. Renewed interest in the smallpox vaccine reflects concerns about a possible bioterrorist threat using this virus. Yellow fever is a hemorrhagic virus endemic to tropical areas of South America and Africa. An effective vaccine for this virus has existed since 1937, and it is used widely in endemic areas of South America, and to a lesser extent in Africa. This vaccine is recommended once every 10 years for people who are traveling to endemic areas. Advances in immunology have led to a greater understanding of immune system function in viral diseases. Progress in genetics and molecular biology has allowed researchers to design vaccines with novel mechanisms of action (eg, DNA, vector, and VLP vaccines). Vaccines have also been designed to specifically target particular viral components, allowing for stimulation of various arms of the immune system as desired. Ongoing research shows promise in prophylactic and therapeutic vaccination for viral infections with cutaneous manifestations. Further studies are necessary before vaccines for HSV, HPV, and HIV become commercially available.