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Case Report
74 (
3
); 145-147
doi:
10.25259/IJMS_153_2022

COVID-19 mRNA vaccine triggering dermatomyositis: A case report

Rheumatology Unit, Department of Medicine, Baghdad Teaching Hospital, Baghdad, Iraq,
Rheumatology Unit, Department of Medicine, College of Medicine, Baghdad, Iraq,
University of Baghdad, College of medicine, Medical student, Baghdad, Iraq.

*Corresponding author: Faiq Isho Gorial, Rheumatology Unit, Department of Medicine, College of Medicine, Baghdad, Iraq. faiqig@gmail.com

Licence
This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-Non Commercial-Share Alike 4.0 License, which allows others to remix, transform, and build upon the work non-commercially, as long as the author is credited and the new creations are licensed under the identical terms.

How to cite this article: Awadh NI, Gorial FI, Al-Laylaa RD, Ismail M. COVID-19 mRNA vaccine triggering dermatomyositis: A case report. Indian J Med Sci 2022;74:145-7.

Abstract

The battle against SARS-COV-2 is rising and the hope in the safety and effectiveness of immunization against this virus is growing up, even though serious and severe adverse events are scarcely observed. In this article, we report a case of mRNA vaccine induced an autoimmune dermatomyositis with features of severity that are managed by immunosuppressants medications and still in regular follow-up. Inflammatory dermatomyositis can be triggered after vaccination with COVID vaccine in the same mechanism that COVID-19 infection-induced myositis.

Keywords

Dermatomyositis
mRNA vaccine
COVID-19
Heliotrope rash
Cyclophosphamide

INTRODUCTION

COVID-19 vaccination is associated with a substantially lower frequency of serious systemic immune-mediated adverse events than is COVID-19 itself, one of the serious adverse events that have been reported is post-vaccine-related myositis.[1]

CASE REPORT

In this article, we report a 55-year-old man with a history of COVID-19 infection 4 months before his presentation that was treated uneventfully at home, presented 4 days after the second dose of Pfizer mRNA vaccine with painful proximal muscles weakness of both lower limbs that progressed in a few days to involve both upper limbs with sparing distal muscles groups, with the development of non-pruritic periorbital red or violaceous erythema of both eyelids (heliotrope rash), with slightly elevated, violaceous, pink, or dusky red papules located over the dorsal side of the metacarpal or interphalangeal joints and over the extensor side of the elbow, and knee joints (Gottron’s papules), erythematous rash over face and neck (v sign), and over the shoulders (shawl sign) [Figure 1].

Dermatomyositis rash: (a) Heliotrope rash, (b) V shape rash, (c) Gottron’s rash on the right knee, and (d) Gottron’s rash on the right hand.
Figure 1:
Dermatomyositis rash: (a) Heliotrope rash, (b) V shape rash, (c) Gottron’s rash on the right knee, and (d) Gottron’s rash on the right hand.

Vital examination for fever revealed a low-grade fever of 37.5 centigrade. Acute-phase reactants were elevated (erythrocyte sedimentation rate: 60 mm/h [normal, 0–20]), (positive C-reactive protein without titer). Complete blood picture parameters were within normal. Elevated Creatine phosphokinase (CPK) 2000 units/L (normal, 39-308 units/L). Serum glutamic-oxaloacetic transaminase and serum glutamicpyruvic transaminase were within normal 29.24 units/L, respectively (normal, 0–40 units/L). Polymerase chain reaction testing for SARS-CoV-2 was negative. Thyroid-stimulating hormone was 1.13 mlU/L (normal, 0.27–4.20 mlU/L). Serum Vitamin D3 level was 23 ng/ml (normal, 30–100 ng/ml). Serum electrolytes were within normal range. Anti-nuclear antibody (ANA) concentration of 0.8 IU/ml (negative, less than 1 IU/ml). An extractable nuclear antigen (ENA) panel’s results were negative. Electromyography of the right, left vastus lateralis, and deltoid muscles revealed spontaneous activity in the form of sharp waves and fibrillations and small polyphasic motor unit action potentials, as shown in [Figure 2]. Muscle biopsy revealed dermatomyositis features.

(a) EMG tracings and (b) EMG tracings (continued).
Figure 2:
(a) EMG tracings and (b) EMG tracings (continued).

Computed tomography neck, chest, and abdomen were normal as part of malignancy screen. Carcinoembryonic antigen, CA19.9, and prostate-specific antigen were 0.5 ng/ml, 9.98 U/ml, and 0.133 ng/ml, respectively (within normal references). The patient was diagnosed with vaccine-induced dermatomyositis and oral prednisolone 60 mg/day was started combined with methotrexate tablet 12.5 mg/week, folic acid tablet 5 mg/week, and Vitamin D3 supplementation.

Two weeks later, the patient developed oropharyngeal dysphagia to solid food, his CPK became 8590 U/L(normal, 39–308 U/L), LDH 1055 U/L (normal, 120–300 U/L), and ferritin 2335 ng/ml (normal, 30–400 ng/ml).

Hence, 3 days pulses of IV methylprednisolone 750 mg had been given to the patient along with IV cyclophosphamide 1 g with adequate hydration.

One week later, there was an improvement in the skin rash and resolution of dysphagia with mild improvement in the proximal muscles weakness. His CPK became 1940 U/L and ferritin >2000 ng/ml. After 6 monthly doses of IV cyclophosphamide, there was a complete resolution of the proximal muscles weakness for both upper and lower extremities, his CPK 95 U/L, ferritin 339 ng/ml, and he is on regular monthly follow-up with planning to prescribe a maintenance quarterly IV cyclophosphamide for him.

DISCUSSION

COVID-19 causes thromboinflammation through hyperinflammation, thrombocytopathy, and endotheliopathy which lead to COVID-19 vasculitis or immune-mediated syndromes. Immune system changes in COVID-19 patients can promote a CD4-Th2 response rather than a CD4-Th1 response against the SARS-CoV-2 virus, resulting in Type 3 hypersensitivity with vascular immune complex deposition, complement activation, and generalized immune cell recruitment.[2]

Because of the high antigenic similarity between the SARSCoV-2 spike protein and human proteins, anti-SARS-Cov2 antibodies may bind to human antigens such as ENAs, nuclear antigens, and myelin basic proteins.[3] Indeed, new data suggest that COVID-19-infected critically ill patients may acquire a post-infectious immune-mediated myopathy, the causes of which are unknown.[4]

Some patients have a Type I interferon signature and a perifascicular expression of major histocompatibility complex antigens, which is similar to dermatomyositis. Vaccine antigens are recognized by the immune system in the vast majority of vaccine recipients, and local immune cells are stimulated, followed by the recruitment of circulating immune cells to the local site. These cells secrete a variety of vasodilators and cytokines that only cause local inflammation. As a result, vaccine reactogenicity is sufficient to elicit protective responses without causing significant systemic consequences. Injection site reaction and transient axillary lymphadenopathy are both classic examples of vaccine-induced local and self-limiting immune responses. These vasodilators and cytokines cause a short-term systemic inflammatory response syndrome when they enter the bloodstream. Hyper-reactive or prolonged reactogenicity to host antigens can result in more serious complications such as myositis, vasculitis, thrombosis with thrombocytopenia syndrome, or Guillain–Barré syndrome. Inflammatory myositis after immunization could be caused by the same processes that cause COVID-19-related immune myopathy.[1]

In the literature, an association of myositis post-COVID-19 vaccination was reported in three cases that received ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 vaccination treated with oral steroids with or without mycophenolate mofetil.[1] Another case report of deltoid muscle myositis related to a post-COVID vaccine was reported.[5]

CONCLUSION

With the discovery of multiple serologic autoimmune antibodies post-COVID infection, post-vaccination inflammatory myositis may develop as a result of the same mechanisms that cause COVID-19-related immune myopathy. This suggests an epiphenomenon rather than the activation or unmasking of a specific immune response directed to the muscles.[6]

Declaration of patient consent

The authors certify that they have obtained all appropriate patient consent.

Conflicts of interest

There are no conflicts of interest.

Financial support and sponsorship

The authors received no financial support.

References

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  2. , , , . Signals of Th2 immune response from COVID-19 patients requiring intensive care. Ann Hematol. 2020;99:1419-20.
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  3. , , , , , , et al. Guillain-Barré syndrome following ChAdOx1-S/nCoV-19 vaccine. Ann Neurol. 2021;90:312-4.
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  4. , , . Association between SARSCoV-2 infection and immune-mediated myopathy in patients who have died. JAMA Neurol. 2021;78:948-60.
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    [CrossRef] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  6. , , , , , . COVID-19-associated myositis with severe proximal and bulbar weakness. Muscle Nerve. 2020;62:E57-60.
    [CrossRef] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

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