Granulomatosis with polyangiitis following Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccination

Tsuyoshi Shirai; Jun Suzuki; Shimpei Kuniyoshi; Yuito Tanno; Hiroshi Fujii

doi:10.1093/mrcr/rxac016

Granulomatosis with polyangiitis following Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccination

Mod Rheumatol Case Rep. 2023 Jan 3;7(1):127-129. doi: 10.1093/mrcr/rxac016.

Authors

Tsuyoshi Shirai¹, Jun Suzuki², Shimpei Kuniyoshi³, Yuito Tanno¹, Hiroshi Fujii¹

Affiliations

¹ Department of Rheumatology, Tohoku University Hospital, Miyagi, Japan.
² Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, Miyagi, Japan.
³ Department of Pathology, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, Miyagi, Japan.

Abstract

We report the first case of proteinase 3-antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody-positive granulomatosis with polyangiitis (GPA) with predominant ears, nose, and throat manifestations following coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination. A 63-year-old woman presented with aural fullness 3 days after vaccination. She presented with progressive rhinosinusitis and otitis media leading to profound hearing loss within 3 weeks. Clinical imaging revealed soft-tissue shadows in the paranasal sinuses with multiple pulmonary nodules, and histopathology was consistent with a diagnosis of GPA. It is crucial to be wary of the possibility of GPA in patients who received COVID-19 vaccines due to its rapid disease progression.

Keywords: ANCA; COVID-19; granulomatosis with polyangiitis; otitis media; vaccination.

Publication types

Case Reports
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Antibodies, Antineutrophil Cytoplasmic
COVID-19 Vaccines / adverse effects
COVID-19* / diagnosis
COVID-19* / prevention & control
Female
Granulomatosis with Polyangiitis* / diagnosis
Granulomatosis with Polyangiitis* / etiology
Humans
Middle Aged
Myeloblastin

Substances

COVID-19 Vaccines
Antibodies, Antineutrophil Cytoplasmic
Myeloblastin