Systemic Vasculitis Following SARS-CoV-2 mRNA Vaccination Demonstrated on FDG PET/CT

Abstract

Causality regarding adverse events following SARS-CoV-2 mRNA vaccine is undetermined for vasculitis. Herein, we report the case of an 80-year-old man who presented with a persistent high fever of 7 days' duration that began shortly after receiving a COVID-19 vaccination. There was also a complaint of persistent lower limb pain and walking difficulty on emergency transportation. FDG PET/CT demonstrated extensive linear hypermetabolic foci along the vessels of both legs, including the hips, and the arms, supraclavicular area, chest wall, and temporal regions, suggesting systemic vasculitis. Subsequent temporal artery biopsy revealed arteritis, which is not typical of giant cell arteritis.

Systemic Vasculitis Following SARS-CoV-2 mRNA Vaccination Demonstrated on FDG PET/CT: Reply

“…W e appreciate your interest in our case report entitled "Systemic Vasculitis following SARS-CoV-2 mRNAVaccination Demonstrated on FDG PET/CT." 1 I agree that headache is one of the most common complications of anti-SARS-CoV-2 vaccinations as one of the nonspecific adverse reactions. In the present case, because no neurological abnormalities were found in the patient, we did not consider the possibility of cerebral vasculitis.…”

“…We appreciate your interest in our case report entitled “Systemic Vasculitis following SARS-CoV-2 mRNA Vaccination Demonstrated on FDG PET/CT.” 1 …”

Re: Systemic Vasculitis Following SARS-CoV-2 mRNA Vaccination Demonstrated on FDG PET/CT

“…We read with interest the article by Nakatani et al 1 about an 80-year-old man who developed fever 1 day after the second dose of an mRNA-based anti–SARS-CoV-2 vaccine and pain in both lower limbs 3 days after vaccination. In addition, he developed headache and gait disturbance 1 .…”

“…We read with interest the article by Nakatani et al 1 about an 80-year-old man who developed fever 1 day after the second dose of an mRNA-based anti–SARS-CoV-2 vaccine and pain in both lower limbs 3 days after vaccination. In addition, he developed headache and gait disturbance 1 . Systemic vasculitis induced by anti–SARS-CoV-2 vaccination was diagnosed based on blood tests, vascular ultrasound, FDG PET, and biopsy of the temporal artery and muscle 1 .…”

“…In addition, he developed headache and gait disturbance 1 . Systemic vasculitis induced by anti–SARS-CoV-2 vaccination was diagnosed based on blood tests, vascular ultrasound, FDG PET, and biopsy of the temporal artery and muscle 1 . It was concluded that it cannot be excluded that the patient had preexisting asymptomatic vasculitis that worsened after vaccination and that a causal relationship between vaccination and vasculitis has not been proven 1 .…”