ABSTRACT
Acute retinal necrosis (ARN) is a relatively uncommon yet devastating cause of vision-threatening uveitis. This manuscript analyzed the cases of ARN that have been reported following SARS-CoV-2 infections and anti- SARS-CoV-2 vaccinations. A total of nine cases of ARN were reported in the literature. Among them, four patients with ARN were attributed to SARS-CoV-2 infections, and a history of recent Covid vaccination was present in five patients when a diagnosis of ARN was made. ARN has been described following SARS-CoV-2 infections or vaccinations against the virus, and many of these cases may be based on a cause-to-effect hypothesis.
ABSTRACT
Growing evidence suggests that COVID-19 vaccines can induce hematological conditions. Here, we report a case of Evans' syndrome, a combination of immune thrombocytopenic purpura and autoimmune hemolytic anemia following administration of the ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 vaccine. The present case further supports the notion that COVID-19 vaccines can trigger in rare cases severe persistent autoimmune-mediated hematological conditions which may predominantly occur in patients with underlying autoimmune conditions.
ABSTRACT
The lipid nanoparticle (LNP)-encapsulated, nucleoside-modified mRNA platform has been used to generate safe and effective vaccines in record time against COVID-19. Here, we review the current understanding of the manner whereby mRNA vaccines induce innate immune activation and how this contributes to protective immunity. We discuss innate immune sensing of mRNA vaccines at the cellular and intracellular levels and consider the contribution of both the mRNA and the LNP components to their immunogenicity. A key message that is emerging from recent observations is that the LNP carrier acts as a powerful adjuvant for this novel vaccine platform. In this context, we highlight important gaps in understanding and discuss how new insight into the mechanisms underlying the effectiveness of mRNA-LNP vaccines may enable tailoring mRNA and carrier molecules to develop vaccines with greater effectiveness and milder adverse events in the future.