Index Entries

Flordeluna Z. Mesina
May 30, 2022
Hematology, Transfusion and Cell Therapy

The author is from the University of Santo Tomas, Faculty of Medicine and Surgery; Internal Medicine, Section of Hematology, Manila, Philippines. 

¨Introduction

... This report details the case of a female patient with a severe relapsed AIHA [autoimmune hemolytic anemia] after receiving the booster with mRNA-1273 vaccine.

Case presentation

A 33-year-old female was admitted because of symptoms of severe anemia. She was apparently well until 1 day after the covid-19 booster vaccination, when she developed flu-like illness and pain at the injection site, for which she took paracetamol. After two days post-vaccination, she developed dizziness, generalized weakness and pallor. As she had a history of AIHA, which had been in remission, she immediately underwent a complete blood count. This showed severe anemia...

Discussion

... Autoimmune hemolytic anemia (AIHA) is defined as a decompensated acquired hemolysis caused by the host's immune system acting against its own red cell antigens. It is classified as primary or secondary, depending on the presence of an underlying disease or condition promoting immune dysregulation... The literature has shown that both the COVID-19 infection and vaccine may trigger AIHA...

Various case reports have been published regarding AIHA after COVID-19 vaccination, all of whom received the mRNA vaccine. Hemolysis was noted in the majority after the first dose, but was also seen after the second dose. The severity of the symptoms ranges from mild to severe...

This patient is unique in 2 ways; 1) she has a pre-existing autoimmune hemolytic anemia-in remission, and; 2) she completed primary Covid-19 vaccination using inactivated virus vaccine with no adverse effect. Hemolysis was only noted during her booster shot using the mRNA vaccine.¨
document
adverse events,autoimmunity,clinical cases,COVID-19,mRNA,vaccines