<b><i>Introduction:</i></b> To date, almost 7 billion doses of the different types of vaccine against SARS-CoV-2 have been administered worldwide. Although the severity of new cases of SARS-CoV-2 has progressively decreased, and the pressure on national health systems has declined, the development of de novo glomerular injuries has been suggested. <b><i>Methods:</i></b> This study aimed to examine the patients who were hospitalized in our Unit between April and November 2021 and underwent renal biopsy for new-onset urinary abnormalities (UA) and/or renal impairment within 3 months of SARS-CoV-2 vaccination. <b><i>Results:</i></b> We identified 17 patients who developed UA and/or renal insufficiency within 3 months of vaccination. Minimal change disease was the most common disease in our cohort (5 patients, 29.4%) followed by acute tubulointerstitial nephritis (TIN; 3 patients, 17.6%), membranous nephropathy (3 patients, 17.6%), and rapidly progressive IgA nephropathy (2 patients, 11.8%). The other 4 patients had a diagnosis of membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis (1 patient), systemic lupus erythematosus (1 patient), ANCA-associated vasculitis (1 patient), and tip-variant focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (1 patient), respectively. Eight out of the 17 patients (47.1%) developed acute kidney injury. Two patients with acute TIN had to start hemodialysis that was discontinued after 1 and 2 months, respectively, due to the recovery of renal function. All patients underwent treatment with corticosteroids and/or immunosuppressants. <b><i>Discussion:</i></b> Although it is not possible to conclusively determine whether there is a causal relationship between SARS-CoV-2 vaccination and new-onset nephropathies, based on the appearance of UA and/or renal insufficiency shortly after vaccination, we hypothesize that the immune response to the COVID-19 vaccine may be a trigger of nephropathies. Therefore, our results highlight the need for pharmacovigilance. However, this report should not lead to vaccine hesitation during this pandemic as the benefits of vaccination strongly outweigh the potential risks.

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Following the widespread use of anti SARS-CoV-2 vaccines, there have been reports of thrombocytopenia developing after the administration of different types of vaccine. We report a case of a 63-year-old male who developed neurological symptoms after receiving the second dose of the bnt162b2 vaccine. Blood tests performed upon admission to the Emergency Department revealed severe thrombocytopenia and microangiopathic hemolytic anemia. ADAMTS13 activity was undetectable and antibody titer was high. Due to the rapid neurological deterioration, steroid therapy with prednisone was started at an initial dose of 1 mg/kg/day. Rituximab therapy was started to prevent the formation of new antibodies. Given the slow response to this therapy, we added Caplacizumab, (a monoclonal antibody anti-Von Willebrand factor) in order to inhibit platelet hyperaggregation, combined with standard plasma exchange. The patient experienced repeated episodes of intolerance to fresh frozen plasma (FFP). Switching from plasma exchange to plasma filtration, remission was attained in this unusual case of vaccine-related thrombocytopenia with microangiopathic hemolytic anemia.

Background and Aims Rituximab (RTX) has shown to be an effective induction treatment for small-vessel vasculitides associated with antineutrophil cytoplasm antibodies (AAV) in both newly diagnosed and relapsing patients. However, the role of RTX in the management of the most severe cases of AAV remains to be fully elucidated. The aim of this study was to assess both safety and efficacy of an intensified B-cell depletion therapy (IBCDT) protocol, including RTX, cyclophosphamide (CYC), and methylprednisolone pulses without additional maintenance immunosuppressive therapy in a cohort of 15 AAV patients with the most severe features of AVV renal involvement (as &lt;15 ml/min GFR and histological findings of paucimmune necrotizing glomerulonephritis with more than 50% crescents of non-sclerotic glomeruli at the renal biopsy). Method Results of the IBCDT regimen have been compared to those obtained in a control cohort of 10 patients with AAV treated with a conventional therapy regimen based on oral CYC and steroids followed by a prolonged maintenance therapy with azathioprine (AZA). Plasma exchange was equally employed in the study and the control group. Results Complete clinical remission (BVAS 0) was observed at 6 months in 14 of 15 patients treated with IBCDT (93%). All cases who achieved a complete clinical remission experienced a depletion of peripheral blood B cells at the end of therapy. Of the 10 dialysis dependent patients at onset, 6 subjects (60%) experienced a functional recovery allowing the suspension of dialysis treatment. When compared to the control group, no statistically significant difference was observed in patients treated with IBCDT in terms of overall survival, 6-month therapeutic response rate, and 6-, and 12-month functional renal recovery. The cumulative total dose of CYC in the case group was on average 1 g/patient while in the control group on average 8.5 g/patient (p = 0.00008). Conclusion Despite the retrospective design and relative limited sample size, IBCDT appeared to be safe and had the same efficacy profile when compared to the conventional therapy with CYC plus AZA in the management of the most severe patients with AAV. Additionally, this avoided the need of prolonged maintenance therapy for long, and limited the exposure to CYC with consequent reduced toxicity and drug-related side effect rates.