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New onset and flare of rheumatic diseases following COVID-19 vaccination are mild and respond well to treatment: 9-month follow-up data from a single centre cohort

1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14

 

  1. Rheumatology Unit, Department of Medicine, University of Padova, Italy.
  2. Rheumatology Unit, Department of Medicine, University of Padova, Italy.
  3. Rheumatology Unit, Department of Medicine, University of Padova, Italy.
  4. Rheumatology Unit, Department of Medicine, University of Padova, Italy.
  5. Rheumatology Unit, Department of Medicine, University of Padova, Italy.
  6. Rheumatology Unit, Department of Medicine, University of Padova, Italy.
  7. Rheumatology Unit, Department of Medicine, University of Padova, Italy.
  8. Rheumatology Unit, Department of Medicine, University of Padova, Italy.
  9. Rheumatology Unit, Department of Medicine, University of Padova, Italy.
  10. Rheumatology Unit, Department of Medicine, University of Padova, Italy.
  11. Rheumatology Unit, Department of Medicine, University of Padova, Italy.
  12. Rheumatology Unit, Department of Medicine, University of Padova, Italy.
  13. Rheumatology Unit, Department of Medicine, University of Padova, Italy.
  14. Rheumatology Unit, Department of Medicine, University of Padova, Italy. luca.iaccarino@unipd.it

CER15414
2023 Vol.41, N°3
PI 0642, PF 0648
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PMID: 35930472 [PubMed]

Received: 13/12/2021
Accepted : 16/05/2022
In Press: 05/08/2022
Published: 23/03/2023

Abstract

OBJECTIVES:
Anti-COVID-19 vaccines have proved to be effective and well tolerated. Great attention is now being paid to the characterisation of possible adverse events associated to their administration. We report a case series of suspected rheumatic diseases (RDs) following anti-COVID-19 vaccination.
METHODS:
We included patients evaluated at first-aid rheumatologic consultancy and at rheumatologic outpatient and inpatient clinic at Padova University Hospital between May and September 2021 presenting with a RD within 30 days after an anti-COVID-19 vaccine dose. Our selection was in accordance with the World Health Organisation guidelines for adverse event following immunisation (AEFI) surveillance. Patients were regularly re-evaluated by telemedicine or face-to-face visit.
RESULTS:
We identified 30 cases of RD following vaccination: 24 (80.0%) new onsets and 6 (20.0%) flares. Most of patients (76.6%) received the BNT162b2 vaccine. The mean time to RD onset/flare was 12±9 days. The most common manifestations were inflammatory arthritis (40.0%), rheumatic polymyalgia (33.3%) and adult-onset Still’s disease (13.3%). At the last FU visit (9.6±2.2 months), 83.3% of patients showed complete response to first- or second-line therapy, 13.3% a partial response and one patient (3.3%) was still experiencing an active disease.
CONCLUSIONS:
Considering the amount of vaccine doses administered during the evaluation period we overall detected a limited number of cases. We noted a clear prevalence of autoinflammatory conditions and seronegative manifestations. The great majority of patients had mild features and showed a good response to therapy.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.55563/clinexprheumatol/vx44zn

Rheumatology Article