Vaccine-Related Autoimmune Hepatitis: Emerging Association with SARS-CoV-2 Vaccination or Coincidence?
Vaccines (Basel) 2022;
10:vaccines10122073. [PMID:
36560483 PMCID:
PMC9783100 DOI:
10.3390/vaccines10122073]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2022] [Revised: 11/30/2022] [Accepted: 12/01/2022] [Indexed: 12/09/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND
There is an increasing number of liver injury cases resembling autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) following SARS-CoV-2 vaccination; however, an association has not yet been established.
METHODS/MATERIALS
A literature review was performed to identify articles regarding the association of AIH with vaccination, emphasizing on SARS-CoV-2 vaccines, and the proposed mechanisms. We then performed a literature search for AIH-like cases following SARS-CoV-2 vaccination, and we evaluated the included cases for AIH diagnosis using simplified diagnostic criteria (SDC), and for vaccination causality using the Naranjo score for adverse drug reactions.
RESULTS
We identified 51 AIH-like cases following SARS-CoV-2 vaccination. Forty cases (80%) were characterized as "probable", "at least probable", or "definite" for AIH diagnosis according to SDC. Forty cases (78.4%) were characterized as "probable", four (7.8%) as "possible", and three (5.8%) as "definite" for vaccine-related AIH according to the Naranjo score.
CONCLUSION
SARS-CoV-2 vaccine-related AIH carries several phenotypes and, although most cases resolve, immunosuppressive therapy seems to be necessary. Early diagnosis is mandatory and should be considered in any patient with acute or chronic hepatitis after SARS-CoV-2 vaccination, especially in those with pre-existing liver disease.
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