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. 2023 Mar 1;29(2):105-108.
doi: 10.1097/RHU.0000000000001906. Epub 2022 Oct 1.

Rheum-CoV-2 Vaccination Case Series

Affiliations
Free PMC article

Rheum-CoV-2 Vaccination Case Series

Seth J VanDerVeer et al. J Clin Rheumatol. .
Free PMC article

Abstract

Objectives: In this case series, we present 5 cases of autoimmune rheumatic disease onset shortly after receiving mRNA vaccination against coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

Methods: We identified 5 patients from Brooke Army Medical Center who developed new manifestations of rheumatic disease following the second dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna COVID-19 vaccinations. All patients were initially seen in primary care and then referred to rheumatology for further evaluation and management. Clinical data were obtained through review of the electronic medical record.

Results: Three cases involve elderly women with insidious onset of symmetric wrist and hand polyarthritis with seropositivity for rheumatoid factor. One case involves an elderly woman with a subacute onset of lower extremity-predominant, symmetric polyarthritis. One case involves an elderly man with insidious onset of bilateral shoulder and hip stiffness and arthralgias in the setting of elevated erythrocyte sedimentation rate and a rapid response to glucocorticoid therapy.

Conclusion: Whether there exists a causal or contributory relationship between COVID-19 mRNA vaccination and the development of autoimmune rheumatic disease remains to be determined. Ultimately, further research is needed to establish if there is a true connection between the two.

Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

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