Pneumonitis secondary to the influenza vaccine

Exacerbation of connective tissue disease-associated interstitial lung disease due to influenza vaccination

Vaccinations against influenza viruses are widely used all over the world. There are reports, however, of some associated adverse events, and there are some case reports of interstitial lung disease occurring after influenza vaccination. We experienced the case of exacerbation of connective tissue disease-associated interstitial lung disease (CTD-ILD) after influenza vaccination, and this is the first reported case, as far as we know. The patient responded quite well to corticosteroids administration. Influenza vaccination for patients with chronic lung disease including CTD-ILD is strongly recommended, but we should be aware of possible adverse events.

Interstitial Pneumonia Associated with the Influenza Vaccine: A Report of Two Cases

Although the influenza vaccine is relatively safe and effective, serious complications can develop in rare cases. We encountered two cases of interstitial pneumonia that developed after vaccination during the 2014-2015 influenza season. Overall, nine cases, including the two presented here, have been recorded in PubMed and the Cochrane library; eight patients were treated with corticosteroids, and all nine survived, suggesting a good prognosis. Interstitial pneumonia is rare; however, we found an increase in its incidence after 2009. Therefore, clinicians must be aware of the possibility of this complication and duly educate all patients in advance.

Interstitial lung disease associated with human papillomavirus vaccination

Vaccinations against the human papillomavirus (HPV) have been recommended for the prevention of cervical cancer. HPV-16/18 AS04-adjuvanted vaccines (Cervarix) are said to have favourable safety profiles. Interstitial lung diseases (ILDs) can occur following exposure to a drug or a biological agent. We report a case of ILD associated with a Cervarix vaccination. A woman in her 40's, with a history of conisation, received three inoculations of Cervarix. Three months later, she presented with a cough and shortness of breath. Findings from a computed tomography of the chest and a transbronchial lung biopsy were consistent with non-specific interstitial pneumonia. Workup eliminated all other causes of the ILD, except for the vaccination. Over the 11 months of the follow-up period, her symptoms resolved without steroid therapy. The onset and spontaneous resolution of the ILD showed a chronological association with the HPV vaccination. The semi-quantitative algorithm revealed that the likelihood of an adverse drug reaction to Cervarix was “Probable”. The outcome was relatively good, but more attention should be paid to a potential risk for HPV vaccinations to cause ILDs. Wherever possible, chest radiographic examinations should be performed in order not to overlook any ILDs.