Is Myasthenia Gravis a Real Complication of the COVID-19 Vaccine? A Case Report-Based Systematic Review

Omid Mirmosayyeb; Elham Moases Ghaffary; Mahsa Mazdak; Zahra Bagheri; Sara Bagherieh; Vahid Shaygannejad

doi:10.1155/2022/5009450

Is Myasthenia Gravis a Real Complication of the COVID-19 Vaccine? A Case Report-Based Systematic Review

Can J Infect Dis Med Microbiol. 2022 Sep 17:2022:5009450. doi: 10.1155/2022/5009450. eCollection 2022.

Authors

Omid Mirmosayyeb^{1

2}, Elham Moases Ghaffary², Mahsa Mazdak², Zahra Bagheri², Sara Bagherieh², Vahid Shaygannejad^{1

2}

Affiliations

¹ Department of Neurology, School of Medicine, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran.
² Isfahan Neurosciences Research Center, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran.

Abstract

Background: Myasthenia gravis (MG) is a neuromuscular, autoimmune disease that causes weakness by impairing neuromuscular transmission. According to reports, vaccines can lead to autoimmunity in different ways, and COVID-19 vaccines are suggested to trigger MG. We conducted this systematic review to assess MG patients after the COVID-19 vaccination.

Methods: We collected 231 studies from four databases from inception to 26 March 2022.

Results: 4 case studies were selected from 231 research studies, and data were extracted based on inclusion criteria. In all cases, MG was reported following COVID-19 vaccination. Symptoms such as muscle weakness, numbness, and ptosis were common. The MG was confirmed through RNST, MRC, NCS, and AchR-binding antibody titer tests.

Conclusion: Although all cases of MG were diagnosed following appropriate tests, the sample size was small; therefore, further investigation is required to demonstrate the possible association between MG and COVID-19 vaccination.

Publication types

Review