Cutaneous adverse reactions associated with COVID-19 vaccines: Current evidence and potential immune mechanisms

Po-Chien Wu; Wan-Chen Lin; Chuang-Wei Wang; Wen-Hung Chung; Chun-Bing Chen

doi:10.1016/j.clim.2024.110220

Cutaneous adverse reactions associated with COVID-19 vaccines: Current evidence and potential immune mechanisms

Clin Immunol. 2024 Apr 19:263:110220. doi: 10.1016/j.clim.2024.110220. Online ahead of print.

Authors

Po-Chien Wu¹, Wan-Chen Lin², Chuang-Wei Wang³, Wen-Hung Chung⁴, Chun-Bing Chen⁵

Affiliations

¹ Department of Dermatology, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Linkou, Taoyuan, Taiwan; Drug Hypersensitivity Clinical and Research Center, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Linkou, Taoyuan, Taiwan; Research Center of Big Data and Meta-Analysis, Wan Fang Hospital, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan.
² Department of Dermatology, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Linkou, Taoyuan, Taiwan; Drug Hypersensitivity Clinical and Research Center, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Linkou, Taoyuan, Taiwan.
³ Department of Dermatology, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Linkou, Taoyuan, Taiwan; Drug Hypersensitivity Clinical and Research Center, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Linkou, Taoyuan, Taiwan; Research Center of Big Data and Meta-Analysis, Wan Fang Hospital, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan; Cancer Vaccine and Immune Cell Therapy Core Laboratory, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Linkou, Taoyuan, Taiwan; Chang Gung Immunology Consortium, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Linkou, and Chang Gung University, Taoyuan, Taiwan; Department of Dermatology, Xiamen Chang Gung Hospital, Xiamen, China; College of Medicine, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan, Taiwan.
⁴ Department of Dermatology, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Linkou, Taoyuan, Taiwan; Drug Hypersensitivity Clinical and Research Center, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Linkou, Taoyuan, Taiwan; Cancer Vaccine and Immune Cell Therapy Core Laboratory, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Linkou, Taoyuan, Taiwan; Chang Gung Immunology Consortium, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Linkou, and Chang Gung University, Taoyuan, Taiwan; Department of Dermatology, Xiamen Chang Gung Hospital, Xiamen, China; College of Medicine, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan, Taiwan; Whole-Genome Research Core Laboratory of Human Diseases, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Keelung, Taiwan; Immune-Oncology Center of Excellence, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Linkou, Taiwan; Department of Dermatology, Beijing Tsinghua Chang Gung Hospital, School of Clinical Medicine, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China; Department of Dermatology, Ruijin Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China; Genomic Medicine Core Laboratory, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Linkou, Taiwan.
⁵ Department of Dermatology, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Linkou, Taoyuan, Taiwan; Drug Hypersensitivity Clinical and Research Center, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Linkou, Taoyuan, Taiwan; Cancer Vaccine and Immune Cell Therapy Core Laboratory, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Linkou, Taoyuan, Taiwan; Chang Gung Immunology Consortium, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Linkou, and Chang Gung University, Taoyuan, Taiwan; Department of Dermatology, Xiamen Chang Gung Hospital, Xiamen, China; College of Medicine, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan, Taiwan; Whole-Genome Research Core Laboratory of Human Diseases, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Keelung, Taiwan; Immune-Oncology Center of Excellence, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Linkou, Taiwan; Graduate Institute of Clinical Medical Sciences, College of Medicine, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan, Taiwan; Genomic Medicine Core Laboratory, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Linkou, Taiwan; School of Medicine, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu, Taiwan. Electronic address: b9202055@cgmh.org.tw.

PMID: 38642783
DOI: 10.1016/j.clim.2024.110220

Abstract

As the number of vaccinated individuals has increased, there have been increasing reports of cutaneous hypersensitivity reactions. The main COVID-19 vaccines administered include messenger ribonucleic acid vaccines, non-replicating viral vector vaccines, inactivated whole-virus vaccines, and protein-based vaccines. These vaccines contain active components such as polyethylene glycol, polysorbate 80, aluminum, tromethamine, and disodium edetate dihydrate. Recent advances in understanding the coordination of inflammatory responses by specific subsets of lymphocytes have led to a new classification based on immune response patterns. We categorize these responses into four patterns: T helper (Th)1-, Th2-, Th17/22-, and Treg-polarized cutaneous inflammation after stimulation of COVID-19 vaccines. Although the association between COVID-19 vaccination and these cutaneous adverse reactions remains controversial, the occurrence of rare dermatoses and their short intervals suggest a possible relationship. Despite the potential adverse reactions, the administration of COVID-19 vaccines is crucial in the ongoing battle against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2.

Keywords: COVID-19; Cutaneous adverse reactions; Hypersensitivity reactions; Vaccines.

Publication types

Review