Thyroid eye disease reactivation associated with COVID-19 vaccination

Increased Risk of Thyroid Eye Disease Following Covid-19 Vaccination

CONTEXT

SARS-CoV-2 infection and Covid-19 vaccines have been associated with thyroid disorders.

OBJECTIVE

We analyzed the risk of thyroid eye disease (TED) following Covid-19 vaccination. This was a self-controlled case series study at a tertiary referral center for TED. A total of 98 consecutive patients with newly developed (n = 92) or reactivated (n = 6) TED occurring between January 1, 2021, and August 31, 2022, were included. TED was assessed in patients undergoing Covid-19 vaccination. Person-days were defined as exposed if TED occurred 1 to 28 days after vaccination, and unexposed if occurring outside this time window. Conditional Poisson regression models were fitted to calculate incidence rate ratio (IRR) and 95% CI of exposed vs unexposed. Sensitivity analyses were conducted considering different exposed periods, and effect modification by potential TED risk factors.

RESULTS

Covid-19 vaccines were administered in 81 people, 25 (31%) of whom developed TED in exposed and 56 (69%) in unexposed periods. The IRR for TED was 3.24 (95% CI 2.01-5.20) and 4.70 (95% CI 2.39-9.23) in patients below 50 years of age. Sex, smoking, and radioiodine treatment did not modify the association between TED and vaccination. TED risk was unrelated to the number of vaccine doses, and progressively decreased over time following vaccination (P trend = .03).

CONCLUSION

The risk of TED was significantly increased after Covid-19 vaccination, especially in people below 50 years of age. Possible mechanisms include spike protein interaction with the angiotensin-converting enzyme II receptor, cross-reactivity with thyroid self-proteins, and immune reactions induced by adjuvants. We suggest monitoring of individuals undergoing Covid-19 vaccination, especially if young and at risk for autoimmunity.

Thyroid Eye Disease as Initial Manifestation of Graves' Disease Following Viral Vector SARS-CoV-2 Vaccine: Report of a Case and Review of the Literature

COVID-19, a contagious disease caused by the novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2, emerged in 2019 and quickly became a pandemic, infecting more than 700 million people worldwide. The disease incidence, morbidity and mortality rates have started to decline since the development of effective vaccines against the virus and the widespread immunization of the population. SARS-CoV-2 vaccines are associated with minor local or systemic adverse reactions, while serious adverse effects are rare. Thyroid-related disorders have been reported after vaccination for COVID-19, and Graves' disease (GD) is the second most common amongst them. Thyroid eye disease (TED), an extrathyroidal manifestation of GD, is rarely observed post-COVID-19 vaccination. All TED cases followed mRNA-based vaccinations, but two new onset mild TED cases post-viral vector vaccine (ChAdox1nCoV-19) have also been reported. We report the case of a 63-year-old woman who presented with new onset hyperthyroidism and moderate-to-severe and active TED 10 days after she received the first dose of a viral vector vaccine against SARS-CoV-2. This is the first case of moderate-to-severe TED after such a vaccine. Our patient was initially treated with intravenous glucocorticoids, and subsequently with intravenous rituximab, due to no response. The disease was rendered inactive after rituximab, but constant diplopia persisted, and the patient was referred for rehabilitative surgery.

SARS-COV-2 specific t-cells in patients with thyroid disorders related to COVID-19 are enriched in the thyroid and acquire a tissue-resident memory phenotype

BACKGROUND

SARS-CoV-2 infections have been associated with the onset of thyroid disorders like classic subacute thyroiditis (SAT) or atypical SAT upon severe COVID disease (COV-A-SAT). Little is known about thyroid anti-viral immune responses.

OBJECTIVES

To define the role of T-cells in COV-A-SAT.

METHODS

T-cells from COV-A-SAT patients were analyzed by multi-dimensional flow cytometry, UMAP and DiffusionMap dimensionality reduction and FlowSOM clustering. T-cells from COVID-naïve healthy donors, patients with autoimmune thyroiditis (ATD) and with SAT following COVID vaccination were analyzed as controls. T-cells were analyzed four and eight months post-infection in peripheral blood and in thyroid specimen obtained by ultrasound-guided fine needle aspiration. SARS-COV2-specific T-cells were identified by cytokine production induced by SARS-COV2-derived peptides and with COVID peptide-loaded HLA multimers after HLA haplotyping.

RESULTS

COV-A-SAT was associated with HLA-DRB1*13 and HLA-B*57. COV-A-SAT patients contained activated Th1- and cytotoxic CD4+ and CD8+ effector cells four months post-infection, which acquired a quiescent memory phenotype after eight months. Anti-SARS-CoV-2-specific T-cell responses were readily detectable in peripheral blood four months post-infection, but were reduced after eight months. CD4+ and CD8+ tissue-resident memory cells (TRM) were present in the thyroid, and circulating CXCR3+T-cells identified as their putative precursors. SARS-CoV-2-specific T-cells were enriched in the thyroid, and acquired a TRM phenotype eight months post-infection.

CONCLUSIONS

The association of COV-A-SAT with specific HLA haplotypes suggests a genetic predisposition and a key role for T-cells. COV-A-SAT is characterized by a prolonged systemic anti-viral effector T-cell response and the late generation of COVID-specific TRM in the thyroid target tissue.

Orbital Inflammatory Pseudotumor following mRNA COVID-19 Vaccination

The authors present a case of orbital pseudotumor after mRNA COVID-19 vaccination. A 40-year-old otherwise healthy woman was referred to our oculoplastics unit because of left blepharoptosis of 2 months duration starting 1 week after she received her first Pfizer-BioNTech mRNA vaccination. On presentation, her best-corrected visual acuity was 20/20 in each eye. The external examination revealed left blepharoptosis and mild upper eyelid swelling. Orbital magnetic resonance imaging revealed left lacrimal gland enlargement with homogeneous contrast enhancement and diffuse mild enlargement of the left lateral and superior rectus muscles. The results of the extended workup for autoimmune and infectious etiologies and the systemic examination findings were normal. Systemic corticosteroids were started for the orbital pseudotumor. The presented case of orbital pseudotumor development after the mRNA vaccine may be considered to be an immunological process targeting the orbital tissue following immunization, although the cause-effect relationship remains uncertain.

COVID-19 vaccination and thyroiditis

At the end of 2019, the world began to fight the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2. Many vaccines have quickly been developed to control the epidemic, and with the widespread use of vaccines globally, several vaccine-related adverse events have been reported. This review mainly focused on COVID-19 vaccination-associated thyroiditis and summarized the current evidence regarding vaccine-induced subacute thyroiditis, silent thyroiditis, Graves' disease, and Graves' orbitopathy. The main clinical characteristics of each specific disease were outlined, and possible pathophysiological mechanisms were discussed. Finally, areas lacking evidence were specified, and a research agenda was proposed.

New Onset or Deterioration of Thyroid Eye Disease After mRNA SARS-CoV-2 Vaccines: Report of 2 Cases and Literature Review

CONTEXT

Occurrence of Graves' disease (GD) has been reported following SARS-CoV-2 vaccine administration, but little is known about thyroid eye disease (TED) after SARS-CoV-2 vaccination.

OBJECTIVE

We describe 2 cases of TED activation following mRNA SARS-CoV-2 vaccination and review additional cases reported in the literature.

METHODS

We report 2 cases of TED activation following SARS-CoV-2 vaccination: 1 case of TED worsening in a patient with GD, and 1 of de novo active TED progressing to dysthyroid optic neuropathy in a patient with a history of Hashimoto hypothyroidism. Our literature search revealed 8 additional reported TED cases associated with SARS-CoV-2 vaccination until June 2022. We review the characteristics, duration, and management of TED following SARS-CoV-2 vaccination in these cases.

RESULTS

Of all 10 reported TED cases following SARS-CoV-2 vaccination, 4 developed new-onset TED and 6 previously stable TED cases experienced significant deterioration. Six patients had known GD and 2 patients had Hashimoto thyroiditis. Two cases progressed to dysthyroid optic neuropathy, 6 had moderate/severe active disease, and 2 had mild disease that did not require treatment. Seven TED cases received teprotumumab and had a favorable response, 2 of whom had prior limited response to initial prednisone or methylprednisolone and tocilizumab therapy.

CONCLUSION

New diagnosis or deterioration of TED after mRNA SARS-CoV-2 vaccination can occur, with most cases described in patients with underlying autoimmune thyroid disease. Our report raises awareness to this potential complication to promote early recognition and prompt management of TED associated with mRNA SARS-CoV-2 vaccines. Further studies are needed to explore the mechanism, risk factors, prevention, and treatment of TED following mRNA SARS-CoV-2 vaccination.

Graves' orbitopathy post-SARS-CoV-2 vaccines: report on six patients

CONTEXT

Autoimmune and inflammatory thyroid diseases (Graves' disease, subacute thyroiditis, chronic autoimmune thyroiditis) have been reported following SARS-CoV-2 vaccines but Graves' orbitopathy (GO) post-COVID-19 vaccination is uncommon.

METHODS

We describe six new patients seen in Endocrinology Departments with Outpatient Clinics for GO following SARS-CoV-2 vaccines in France.

RESULTS

After COVID-19 vaccination, GO was observed in six patients (three men, three women, mean age 53 ± 6 years) with a personal past history of Graves' disease (5/6) or orbitopathy (4/6). New-onset (n = 2) or recurrence (n = 4) of GO was observed following mRNA vaccines after the first (3/6) or second (3/6) dose, with the mean time from vaccination to GO at 23.8 ± 10.4 days. In one patient, thyrotoxicosis was confirmed by increased free T4 and low TSH concentrations while others had normal TSH levels, during chronic levothyroxine treatment in three patients. Four patients had significant anti-TSH receptor antibodies levels. According to the severity and activity of GO, the patients were treated using selenium (n = 2), intravenous glucocorticoids (n = 2), teprotumumab (n = 1), tocilizumab (n = 2) and orbital decompression (n = 1) with a significant improvement in GO signs and symptoms observed by most patients.

CONCLUSION

In this study, we report the main data from six new patients with GO following SARS-CoV-2 vaccines. Clinicians need to be aware of the risk of new-onset or recurrent GO in predisposed patients with autoimmune thyroid diseases after COVID-19 vaccination. This study should not raise any concerns regarding SARS-CoV-2 vaccination since the risk of COVID-19 undoubtedly outweighs the incidence of uncommon GO after SARS-CoV-2 vaccination.

Reactivation of Graves' Disease and Thyroid Eye Disease following COVID-19 Vaccination - A Case Report

A 51-year-old male had a history of well-controlled Graves' disease (GD) under regular follow-up, and thyroid eye disease (TED) with post bilateral orbital decompression. However, after COVID-19 vaccination, recrudescence of GD and moderate-to-severe TED were diagnosed by increased thyroxine levels and decreased thyrotropin levels in serum, and positive results of thyrotropin receptor antibody and thyroid peroxidase antibody. Weekly intravenous methylprednisolone was prescribed. Symptoms gradually improved accompanied with reduction in proptosis: 1.5 mm of the OD and 2.5 mm of the OS. Possible pathophysiological mechanisms discussed included molecular mimicry theory, autoimmune/inflammatory syndrome induced by adjuvants, and certain genetic predisposition of human leukocyte antigen. Physicians should remind patients to seek treatment if the symptoms and signs of TED recur following COVID-19 vaccination.

SARS-CoV-2 vaccine may trigger thyroid autoimmunity: real-life experience and review of the literature

PURPOSE

SARS-CoV-2 infection can be associated with destructive thyroiditis and triggers thyroid autoimmunity. More recent evidence suggests that SARS-CoV-2 vaccines may also be associated with permanent or transient thyroid dysfunction in susceptible individuals.

METHODS

We observed three patients who developed/exacerbated autoimmune thyroid diseases (AITDs) shortly after receiving mRNA-based vaccines against SARS-CoV2. Clinical histories are reported, and relevant literature in the field is summarized.

RESULTS

Our case series gives a description of the full spectrum of autoimmune disorders that may occur after SARS-CoV-2 vaccines administration, ranging from a case of new-onset Graves' disease to autoimmune hypothyroidism in two patients with pre-existing AITDs. Our three patients had a personal and/or family history of autoimmune disorders, suggesting that genetic predisposition is an important risk factor for the development of AITDs following vaccination. Moreover, our real-life experience demonstrates that persistent hypothyroidism may occur in the long run and should be overlooked; subjects with a previous AITDs are at risk of developing it. Reviewing the pertinent literature up to date Graves' disease is the most common vaccine-related AITDs with up to 51 cases reported in the literature, occurring mainly in female patients with no personal history of AIDTs, while only a case of autoimmune hypothyroidism has been reported so far.

CONCLUSIONS

SARS-CoV-2 vaccines can trigger autoimmune reactions and the present case series contributes to make clinicians aware of full spectrum of AITDs that may occur following vaccination. Thyroid function monitoring is recommended, mainly in subjects with a personal/family history of AITDs.

Endocrine system after 2 years of COVID-19 vaccines: A narrative review of the literature

PURPOSE

The purpose of this study was to describe the current knowledge on the potential endocrine adverse effects post-COVID-19 vaccines.

METHODS

A PubMed/MEDLINE, Web of Science, and Scopus research was performed. Case reports, case series, original studies, and reviews written in English and published online up to 31 July 2022 were selected and reviewed. The final reference list was defined based on the relevance of each paper to the scope of this review.

RESULTS

The available data showed that endocrine side effects are generally rare and with favorable outcome, being thyroid disorders the most common. Conversely, data on type 1 diabetes mellitus are rare; adrenal and pituitary events are even anecdotal. Finally, the available clinical studies suggest no impact on female reproductive system and on male and couple fertility.

CONCLUSION

Overall, these data show that, after 2 years of COVID-19 vaccines, the endocrine system is not heavily threatened.