Systemic lupus erythematosus myocarditis after COVID-19 vaccination. Scientific Publication

Jul 28, 2022 | Magazine: Reumatología Clínica

Miguel Sogbe 1 , Andrés Blanco-Di Matteo 1 , I Madeleine Di Frisco 2 , Juan Fernando Bastidas 3 , Nahikari Salterain 4 , Juan José Gavira 4

Introduction: Cases of acute myocarditis have been after administration of the BNT162b2 and Ad26.COV2.S vaccine.

Objective: Describe another possible mechanism of myocarditis after COVID-19 vaccination.

Case presentation: We describe the clinical case of a 72-year-old female with pleuritic chest pain one week after the third of the BNT162b2 mRNA vaccine. Serological tests for cardiotropic pathogens were negative, and autoimmunity screening was positive with anti-nuclear antibody (ANA) in 1:160 dilution, Anti-double-stranded DNA (anti-dsDNA), and anti-histone antibodies. 18F-fluoro-deoxy-glucose (FDG) positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) showed a focal myocardial and pericardial inflammatory process in the cardiac apex.

Results and discussion: Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) diagnosis was made with myocardial affection. As far as we know, this is the first report of a case of lupus myocarditis after the COVID-19 vaccine.

Conclusion: Given the pathogenic rationales, the association between SLE and myocarditis should be considered.

CITATION Reumatol Clin. 2022 Jul 28. doi: 10.1016/j.reuma.2022.06.003

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