ANCA-associated vasculitis following Johnson and Johnson COVID-19 vaccine

• Published in: Annals of medicine and surgery Vol. 79
• Main Authors: Yadav, Rukesh, Shah, Sangam, Chhetri, Santosh
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier Ltd 01-07-2022; Elsevier
• Subjects: AAV; Case Report; COVID; Johnson and Johnson; Vaccine; Vasculitis; COVID; Vaccine; Vasculitis; Johnson and Johnson; AAV
• ISSN: 2049-0801; 2049-0801
• DOI: 10.1016/j.amsu.2022.104123

Antineutrophil cytoplasmic autoantibodies associated vasculitis (AAV) is characterized by antibodies against antigens in cytoplasmic granules of neutrophils and predominantly affects small vessels. AAV after COVID-19 mRNA vaccination has been reported.
We report a rare case of AAV in a patient who presented with rapidly progressive glomerulonephritis (RPGN) after Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine administration.
The temporal causal association between autoimmune manifestations like AAV and COVID-19 vaccines can be explained by hypothesized mechanisms like molecular mimicry, defective neutrophilic apoptosis, polyclonal activation, and systemic proinflammatory cytokine response. These mechanisms are likely to trigger autoimmune responses in genetically susceptible individuals. Still there are many research going on to fill the research gap on the development of ANCA associated with COVID-19 vaccines.
Increasing reports of rare adverse effects like AAV following COVID-19 vaccination warrants the further study and evaluation of immune responses induced by those vaccines. Considering the potential severity of COVID-19 and the rarity of the above-mentioned adverse effects, COVID-19 vaccination should not be withheld.
•AAV following adenovirus vector vaccine has not been reported previously.•Increasing reports of rare adverse effects like AAV following COVID-19 vaccination warrants the further study•And evaluation of immune responses induced by those vaccines.