Abstract: TH-PO1107
Series of Glomerular Diseases Developed After COVID-19 mRNA Vaccination
Session Information
- COVID-19 - I
November 02, 2023 | Location: Exhibit Hall, Pennsylvania Convention Center
Abstract Time: 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Category: Coronavirus (COVID-19)
- 000 Coronavirus (COVID-19)
Authors
- Abe, Kenichiro, Juntendo Daigaku Igakubu Fuzoku Urayasu Byoin, Urayasu, Chiba, Japan
- Suzuki, Hitoshi, Juntendo Daigaku Igakubu Fuzoku Urayasu Byoin, Urayasu, Chiba, Japan
- Umezawa, Yukako, Juntendo Daigaku Igakubu Fuzoku Urayasu Byoin, Urayasu, Chiba, Japan
- Hirose, Hitomi, Juntendo Daigaku Igakubu Fuzoku Urayasu Byoin, Urayasu, Chiba, Japan
- Koshida, Takeo, Juntendo Daigaku Igakubu Fuzoku Urayasu Byoin, Urayasu, Chiba, Japan
- Hirasawa, Tomomi, Juntendo Daigaku Igakubu Fuzoku Urayasu Byoin, Urayasu, Chiba, Japan
- Kato, Arisa, Juntendo Daigaku Igakubu Fuzoku Urayasu Byoin, Urayasu, Chiba, Japan
- Fukuda, Hiromitsu, Juntendo Daigaku Igakubu Fuzoku Urayasu Byoin, Urayasu, Chiba, Japan
- Takahara, Hisatsugu, Juntendo Daigaku Igakubu Fuzoku Urayasu Byoin, Urayasu, Chiba, Japan
- Suzuki, Yusuke, Juntendo Daigaku Igakubu Daigakuin Igaku Kenkyuka, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, Japan
Introduction
The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccine has been proven effective in preventing severe COVID-19 infection. Meanwhile, many vaccine-related adverse events have been reported with the increasing use of messenger RNA (mRNA)-based COVID-19 vaccines. In fact, cases of vaccine-related new-onset and relapsing glomerular diseases, including minimal change disease (MCD), anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic autoantibody-associated vasculitis, immunoglobulin (Ig)G4-related disease, and IgA nephropathy (IgAN), have been reported. Here, we report 40 patients who developed glomerular diseases after COVID-19 mRNA vaccination.
Case Description
We evaluated the clinical characteristics, vaccine types, and clinical outcomes of 40 patients whose urinalysis indicated proteinuria and/or occult blood after COVID-19 mRNA vaccination. For a definitive diagnosis, we performed a renal biopsy and evaluated their histological findings. Out of 40 patients, 27 (67.5%) were female, and 13 (32.5%) were male. The median patient age was 41 years (range, 15–78). Seventy-five percent of patients received BioNTech Pfizer vaccines, and 25% received Moderna vaccines. Gross hematuria was observed in 85% of patients, and 15% presented with nephrotic syndrome. Twenty-seven patients (67.5%) were diagnosed as IgAN by renal biopsy, while the remaining were diagnosed with MCD, TAFRO syndrome, membranous nephropathy, proliferative glomerulonephritis with monoclonal Ig deposits, thrombotic microangiopathy, and anti-glomerular basement membrane disease. Four patients with IgAN who previously diagnosed and underwent treatment showed exacerbation of urinary abnormalities.
Discussion
Various glomerular diseases developed after COVID-19 mRNA vaccination. However, the mechanisms underlying mRNA vaccine induced kidney disease remain unclear. Several hypotheses have been proposed regarding the mechanism by which an mRNA vaccine triggers an adaptive immune response to display its protective effect, which may stimulate a hyperinflammatory condition. Further studies are necessary to elucidate the underlying biological mechanisms and identify the exact causal relationship.