Does the BNT162b2 Vaccine Trigger Antimelanoma Differentiation-Associated Gene 5 Antibody–Positive Interstitial Lung Disease?

Abstract

We read the report by Kitajima et al1 with great interest. They demonstrated 4 cases of antimelanoma differentiation-associated gene 5 (anti-MDA5)–positive interstitial lung disease (ILD) manifested following SARS-CoV-2 vaccination and suggested the possibility of the increased incidence of anti-MDA5- associated ILD (anti-MDA5-ILD) due to the vaccination. This study interested us since we also encountered a case of new-onset anti-MDA5 antibody–positive clinically amyopathic dermatomyositis (CADM) with ILD, developed 8 weeks after BNT162b2 vaccination during the SARS-CoV-2 vaccination campaign in Japan.

Dr. Kitajima et al reply

“…We thank Mutoh et al 1 for their interest in our study on antimelanoma differentiation-associated gene 5 antibody-positive interstitial lung disease (anti-MDA5-ILD) after vaccination with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) mRNA vaccines 2 and for sharing their clinical experience.…”