An old entity, a new trigger: Post COVID-19 vaccine pityriasis rubra pilaris

Pityriasis following COVID-19 vaccinations: a systematic review

In the wake of a global COVID-19 pandemic, where innovations in vaccination technology and the speed of development and distribution have been unprecedented, a wide variety of post-vaccination cutaneous reactions have surfaced. However, there has not been a systematic review that investigates pityriasis eruptions and the associated variants following COVID-19 inoculations. A PubMed search using Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses was performed to find case reports from the earliest record through November 2022. Data including types of vaccination and pityriasis were extracted and a quality review was performed; 47 reports with 94 patients were found: 64.9% had pityriasis rosea (PR), 3.2% PR-like eruptions, 16.0% pityriasis rubra pilaris, 7.4% pityriasis lichenoides et varioliformis acuta, 3.2% pityriasis lichenoides chronica, and 5.3% had reactions described as atypical. The top three COVID-19 vaccinations reported were Pfizer-BioNTech (47.9%), Oxford-AstraZeneca (11.7%), and Moderna (8.5%). Pityriasis reactivity was reported most frequently after the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccination, with pityriasis rosea being the most common variant. A large difference was additionally found between the ratio of post-vaccination pityriasis reactions following Pfizer and Moderna vaccinations (5.63), and the ratio of Pfizer's usage in the United States as of December 28, 2022 relative to that of Moderna (1.59). Further studies with adequate follow-up periods and diagnostic testing will thus need to be performed to elucidate the root of this discrepancy and better characterize the association between different pityriasis reactions and COVID-19 vaccinations.

Pityriasis Rubra Pilaris: An Updated Review of Clinical Presentation, Etiopathogenesis, and Treatment Options

Pityriasis rubra pilaris (PRP) is a rare papulosquamous reaction pattern with a significant impact on quality of life. Type I PRP is the most common PRP variant, presenting as erythematous papules emerging in a follicular distribution and later coalescing into plaques with characteristic islands of sparing; histologically, an alternating pattern of orthokeratosis and parakeratosis is considered the hallmark of PRP (checkerboard hyperkeratosis). Other PRP variants (types II-V) differ in their age of onset and clinical presentation. Type VI PRP is a rare PRP subtype associated with human immunodeficiency virus infection and is occasionally associated with diseases of the follicular occlusion tetrad. Caspase recruitment domain family, member 14 (CARD14)-associated papulosquamous eruption and facial discoid dermatitis are newly described disease states that have an important clinical overlap with PRP, creating shared conundrums with respect to diagnosis and treatment. The etiology inciting PRP often remains uncertain; PRP has been suggested to be associated with infection, malignancy, or drug/vaccine administration in some cases, although these are based on case reports and causality has not been established. Type V PRP is often due to inborn CARD14 mutations. Furthermore, recent literature has identified interleukin-23/T-helper-17 cell axis dysregulation to be a major mediator of PRP pathogenesis, paving the way for mechanism-directed therapy. At present, high-dose isotretinoin, ixekizumab, and secukinumab are systemic agents supported by single-arm prospective studies; numerous other agents have also been trialed for PRP, with variable success rates. Here, we discuss updates on clinical manifestations, present new insights into etiopathogenesis, and offer a survey of recently described therapeutic options.

Pityriasis Rubra Pilaris After Moderna COVID-19 Vaccination: A Case Report and Literature Review

ABSTRACT

To date, over 60% of the world's population has received at least 1 dose of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination, with over 12 billion doses administered globally. Commonly reported adverse effects of COVID-19 vaccination include fever, headache, myalgia, and injection site reactions. The spectrum of documented cutaneous reactions after COVID-19 vaccination is broad; however, pityriasis rubra pilaris (PRP) or PRP-like eruption secondary to COVID-19 vaccine is exceedingly rare, with only 17 cases previously reported to date in the English literature. In this article, we describe an additional case of COVID-19 vaccination-associated PRP in a 50-year-old woman with a history of metastatic breast carcinoma, who developed a widespread cutaneous eruption characteristic of PRP, including palmoplantar keratoderma, 10 days after her third dose of Moderna COVID-19 vaccine. Punch biopsy specimen showed epidermal hyperplasia with overlying hyperkeratosis, alternating orthokeratosis and parakeratosis and focal follicular plugging, supporting the diagnosis of PRP. The patient improved within weeks of initiating oral acitretin and topical steroids, with resolution achieved after 3 months of continued therapy. To the best of our knowledge, this is the third reported case of Moderna COVID-19 vaccination-associated PRP and collectively the 18 th after the administration of all COVID-19 vaccines currently available, including Pfizer-BioNTech, and AstraZeneca.

Global prevalence and clinical manifestations of cutaneous adverse reactions following COVID-19 vaccination: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Although vaccination is widely accepted as an effective method of preventing and controlling the COVID-19 pandemic, many people are concerned about possible cutaneous side effects which can delay or prevent them from being vaccinated. The objectives of this systematic review were to assess the global prevalence and clinical manifestations of cutaneous adverse reactions following COVID-19 vaccination. PubMed and Scopus databases were searched for articles published from January 1, 2019, to December 31, 2021, and reference lists for each selected article were screened. Case reports, case series, observational studies, and randomized controlled trials that provided information on cutaneous adverse reactions following COVID-19 vaccines were included. A total of 300 studies were included in a systematic review of which 32 studies with 946,366 participants were included in the meta-analysis. The pooled prevalence of cutaneous manifestations following COVID-19 vaccination was 3.8% (95% CI, 2.7%-5.3%). COVID-19 vaccines based on the mRNA platform had a higher prevalence than other platforms at 6.9% (95% CI, 3.8%-12.3%). Various cutaneous manifestations have been reported from injection site reactions which were the most common (72.16%) to uncommon adverse reactions such as delayed inflammatory reactions to tissue filler (0.07%) and flares of pre-existing dermatoses (0.07%). Severe cutaneous reactions such as anaphylaxis have also been reported, but in rare cases (0.05%). In conclusion, cutaneous adverse reactions are common, especially in those receiving mRNA vaccines. Most reactions are mild and are not contraindications to subsequent vaccination except for anaphylaxis, which rarely occurs. COVID-19 vaccination may also be associated with flares of pre-existing dermatoses and delayed inflammatory reactions to tissue filler. Patients with a history of allergies, pre-existing skin conditions, or scheduled for filler injections should receive additional pre-counseling and monitoring. A better understanding of potential side effects may strengthen public confidence in those wary of new vaccine technologies.

Development of Severe Pemphigus Vulgaris Following ChAdOx1 nCoV‐19 Vaccination and Review of Literature

Vaccines are indeed a boon for tackling the present COVID‐19 pandemic. In India, ChAdOx1 nCoV‐19 (Covishield) is the most commonly used vaccine in the government vaccination program for adults more than 18 years of age. It is a recombinant vaccine developed by Oxford‐Astra Zeneca and manufactured in India by Serum Institute of India (SSI). Here, we report a case of severe pemphigus vulgaris following the second dose of ChAdOx1 nCoV‐19 vaccination in an adult male. The patient developed septicemia during the course of hospital stay, and he was managed with systemic steroids, parenteral antibiotics, and intravenous immunoglobulins (IVIg) along with proper wound care. Patient started improving within 1 month of therapy. This case is being reported in view of the rarity of pemphigus vulgaris following ChAdOx1 nCoV‐19 vaccine.

[Pityriasis rubra pilaris after COVID-19 vaccination: causal relationship or coincidence?]

Seit der Markteinführung der COVID-19-Impfstoffe werden regelmäßig kutane Nebenwirkungen dieser Vakzine beschrieben. Diese beinhalten unter anderem lokale Impfreaktionen (insbesondere den sog. COVID-Arm), urtikarielle, makulopapulöse und pityriasiforme Exantheme oder vorübergehende Exazerbationen einer vorbestehenden chronisch entzündlichen Hauterkrankung. Wir berichten über 3 Fälle einer Pityriasis rubra pilaris, die in engem zeitlichen Zusammenhang mit der Verabreichung eines COVID-19-Impfstoffs erstmals aufgetreten sind.

SARS-CoV-2 vaccine-related cutaneous manifestations: a systematic review

To date, over 250 million people have been reportedly infected by COVID‐19 disease, which has spread across the globe and led to approximately 5.1 million fatalities. To prevent both COVID‐19 and viral transmission, DNA‐based/RNA‐based vaccines, non‐replicating viral vector vaccines, and inactivated vaccines have been recently developed. However, a precise clinical and histological characterization of SARS‐CoV‐2 vaccine‐related dermatological manifestations is still lacking. A systematic review of 229 articles was conducted according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta‐Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines, in order to provide an extensive overview of SARS‐CoV‐2 vaccine‐related skin manifestations. Data on demographics, number of reported cases with cutaneous involvement, vaccine, and rash type (morphology) were extracted from articles and summarized. A total of 5941 SARS‐CoV‐2 vaccine‐related dermatological manifestations were gathered. Local injection‐site reactions were the most frequently observed, followed by rash/unspecified cutaneous eruption, urticarial rashes, angioedema, herpes zoster, morbilliform/maculopapular/erythematous macular eruption, pityriasis rosea and pityriasis rosea‐like eruptions, and other less common dermatological manifestations. Flares of pre‐existing dermatological conditions were also reported. Cutaneous adverse reactions following SARS‐CoV‐2 vaccine administration seem to be heterogeneous, rather infrequent, and not life‐threatening. Vaccinated patients should be monitored for skin manifestations, and dermatological evaluation should be offered, when needed.

Cutaneous Adverse Reactions Associated with SARS-CoV-2 Vaccines

Many patients are receiving SARS-CoV-2 vaccinations, which have been associated with a variety of adverse effects. Cutaneous adverse reactions to SARS-CoV-2 vaccinations have been progressively reported, but they have not been reviewed according to their morphological clinical patterns. The objective of this review was to summarize the existing data concerning the cutaneous adverse reactions following SARS-CoV-2 vaccines and group them according to common morphological and pathogenetic patterns. We reviewed the English language literature up to 15 August 2021, using predefined keywords to identify the relevant studies evaluating cutaneous adverse reactions associated with SARS-CoV-2 vaccines. We search for recurrent morphological patterns sharing clinical signs and symptoms and physio-pathological mechanisms. Timing to onset following the first or booster dose of the vaccine, predisposing conditions, therapeutic management, and outcome were also collected. Among the dermatological manifestations associated with SARS-CoV-2 vaccinations, we distinguished: (1) new onset reactions and (2) flares of preexisting dermatoses. The most common were injection site reactions, affecting 30–70% and generally mild or moderate. Small case series or single case reports included filler reactions, exanthemas, vascular lesions, urticaria, eczematous dermatitis, autoimmune bullous reactions, and severe cutaneous adverse reactions. In addition, the exacerbation of chronic immuno-mediated dermatoses (mainly psoriasis and atopic dermatitis) and reactivations of herpes infection were reported. The cutaneous reactions were generally mild, self-limiting, and resembled common cutaneous drug eruptions and/or COVID-19 skin manifestations.