Varicella-Zoster virus reactivation following severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 vaccination or infection: New insights

Martinez-Reviejo, Raquel; Adebanjo, Ganiyat Adenike Ralitsa; Chello, Camilla; Machado, Miriam Cristine V; Parisella, Francesca Romana; Campins, Magda; Tammaro, Antonella; Rello, Jordi

doi:10.1016/j.ejim.2022.07.022

Cited by 25 publications

(24 citation statements)

References 79 publications

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“…Ozdemir et al similarly reported herpes zoster in two healthy young patients following vaccination [ 74 ]. Additional literature presents similar cases of reactivation of latent herpetic infection after vaccination [ 75 ]. In their review of the Vaccine Adverse Events Reporting System, Gringeri et al identified 5934 cases of herpes zoster and 273 of herpes simplex infection after receiving the BNT162b2 vaccine [ 76 ].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Corneal Adverse Events Associated with SARS-CoV-2/COVID-19 Vaccination: A Systematic Review

et al. 2023

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Vaccines against coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) have played an important global role in reducing morbidity and mortality from COVID-19 infection. While the benefits of vaccination greatly outweigh the risks, adverse events do occur. Non-ocular adverse effects of the vaccines have been well-documented, but descriptions of ophthalmic effects remain limited. This systematic review aims to provide an overview of reported cases of corneal adverse events after receiving vaccination against COVID-19 and to compile existing clinical data to bring attention to these phenomena. Our review discusses corneal graft rejection, including proposed mechanisms, herpetic keratitis, and other reported corneal complications. Ophthalmologists and primary care physicians should be aware of such possible associations.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Corneal Adverse Events Associated with SARS-CoV-2/COVID-19 Vaccination: A Systematic Review

et al. 2023

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“…Data from retrospective analyses of adverse event databases following COVID-19 vaccination [ 54 , 55 , 56 ] or case-control studies [ 57 ] support an increased risk of developing zoster following COVID-19 vaccination. In a recent systematic review [ 58 ] of evidence of VZV reactivation or infection following SARS-CoV-2 vaccination, Martinez-Reveijo et al [ 58 ] concluded that the occurrence of VZV reactivation is clinically relevant. In their analysis [ 58 ], 55 reports met the inclusion criteria.…”

Section: Sars-cov-2 Vaccination and Human Herpesviruses Infectionsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In a recent systematic review [ 58 ] of evidence of VZV reactivation or infection following SARS-CoV-2 vaccination, Martinez-Reveijo et al [ 58 ] concluded that the occurrence of VZV reactivation is clinically relevant. In their analysis [ 58 ], 55 reports met the inclusion criteria. VZV manifestations were documented in 179 (82.1%) subjects following SARS-CoV-2 vaccination and in 39 (17.9%) patients with COVID-19.…”

Section: Sars-cov-2 Vaccination and Human Herpesviruses Infectionsmentioning

confidence: 99%

COVID-19, SARS-CoV-2 Vaccination, and Human Herpesviruses Infections

Maple

2023

Vaccines

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There are several human herpesviruses. A common characteristic of infection by these viruses is latency, by which the virus assumes a non-replicative state, subverting the attentions of the host’s immune response. In immunocompetent hosts, herpesviruses are immunologically controlled, although periodic virus shedding can occur. In situations where immunological control is lost, herpesviruses can reactivate and produce clinically apparent disease. It is now becoming apparent that COVID-19 or exposure to COVID-19 vaccines can exert several effects on the immune system. The pandemic of COVID-19 shows no sign of abating, with new severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) variants continuing to evolve. Several COVID-19 vaccines have been developed, and much of the world’s population has either experienced COVID-19 or been vaccinated against it. There are an increasing number of reports of associations between herpesvirus infections or reactivations and COVID-19 or COVID-19 vaccination. For instance, a positive cytomegalovirus serostatus may indicate a greater likelihood of severe COVID-19, and herpes simplex virus reactivation may be linked to increased mortality. Epstein–Barr virus reactivation appears to be associated with post-acute sequelae of COVID-19. Finally, herpes zoster has been reported to be associated with COVID-19 vaccination. This brief narrative review will provide several insights into associations between herpesvirus infections or reactivations and COVID-19 or SARS-CoV-2 vaccination.

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“…Recently, many support the claim that cutaneous manifestations of COVID‐19 are severity‐dependent and perhaps reflect a type IV immune response, 14 while others have suggested an apparent association with Herpesviridae 15,16 …”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Whether the SARS‐CoV‐2 mRNA vaccination (henceforth, the mRNA vaccine) contributes to herpes reactivation is an ongoing debate, despite the large amount of structured data. A meta‐analysis published in May 2022 concluded that “there is no evidence of an association between COVID‐19 vaccination and herpes zoster,” while a systematic review published in August 2022 seemed to solidify the assumption of herpetic reactivation after an mRNA vaccination, labeling it as a “clinically relevant risk” 15 …”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Unraveling the debate: Can the skin manifestations of SARS‐CoV‐2 infection and vaccination be explained by the reactivation of herpes virus?

Getzler,

Vered,

Gavze

et al. 2023

The Journal of Dermatology

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Since the COVID‐19 outbreak, there have been numerous reports concerning COVID‐19 skin manifestations. Debate has ensued as to whether these lesions are unique or represent a form of viral reactivation. The aim of this research was to compare the incidence of herpetic skin lesions between a COVID‐19 group, a Sars‐CoV‐2 mRNA vaccination group, and their respective controls, taking into account their Herpesviridae carrier status. To achieve this goal, the Maccabi Healthcare Services' database was scanned and cohorts of both verified COVID‐19 and mRNA vaccinated patients were extracted and matched to random control groups. Patients with a documented occurrence of any Herpesviridae infection that occurred prior to the studied ‘event’ (i.e., COVID‐19 or mRNA vaccination) were regarded as carriers of Herpesviridae. A COVID‐19‐related or vaccination‐related lesion was defined as a clinically diagnosed herpetic lesion appearing 1 month after the index date. In the COVID‐19 cohort, there was an insignificant difference in herpetic lesion incidence between the groups. However, logistic regression demonstrated that the interaction of COVID‐19 with the Herpesviridae carrier status was statistically significant. For the vaccination cohort, the data showed statistically significant differences between groups in herpetic frequencies, which manifested as an almost 2‐fold odds of developing a herpetic lesion. In conclusion, following the analysis of two large cohorts, there is evidence to support the contribution of both COVID‐19 and the mRNA vaccine to the reactivation of Herpesviridae. Our results diminish the idea that COVID‐19 has unique, herpetic‐like lesions.

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Varicella-Zoster virus reactivation following severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 vaccination or infection: New insights

Cited by 25 publications

References 79 publications

Corneal Adverse Events Associated with SARS-CoV-2/COVID-19 Vaccination: A Systematic Review

Corneal Adverse Events Associated with SARS-CoV-2/COVID-19 Vaccination: A Systematic Review

COVID-19, SARS-CoV-2 Vaccination, and Human Herpesviruses Infections

Unraveling the debate: Can the skin manifestations of SARS‐CoV‐2 infection and vaccination be explained by the reactivation of herpes virus?

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