A Novel Development of Sarcoidosis Following COVID-19 Vaccination and a Literature Review

Intern Med. 2022 Oct 15;61(20):3101-3106. doi: 10.2169/internalmedicine.0104-22. Epub 2022 Aug 10.

Abstract

BNT162b2 (Pfizer/BioNTech) is a coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccine containing nucleoside-modified messenger RNA encoding the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 spike glycoprotein. Recently, ocular complications of mRNA vaccines have been reported increasingly frequently. However, immunological adverse events due to mRNA vaccines in real-world settings are not fully known. We herein report the novel development of sarcoidosis manifested as uveitis, bilateral hilar lymphadenopathy, angiotensin-converting enzyme elevation, and epithelioid and giant cell granuloma formation in the lung soon after the first BNT162b2 injection and review the current literature, including three reported cases of sarcoid-like reaction following COVID-19 vaccination.

Keywords: COVID-19; angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE); mRNA vaccine; sarcoidosis; uveitis.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Angiotensins
  • BNT162 Vaccine
  • COVID-19 Vaccines* / adverse effects
  • COVID-19* / prevention & control
  • Humans
  • Sarcoidosis* / chemically induced
  • Spike Glycoprotein, Coronavirus
  • Vaccination / adverse effects

Substances

  • Angiotensins
  • BNT162 Vaccine
  • COVID-19 Vaccines
  • Spike Glycoprotein, Coronavirus
  • spike protein, SARS-CoV-2