Vulvar Aphthous Ulcers in Perimenarchal Adolescents after COVID-19 Vaccination: A Multicenter Case Series.

This case series from 3 academic hospital-based pediatric and adolescent gynecology services outlines the temporal association between vulvar ulcers in female adolescents and COVID-19 vaccination. We identified 8 cases and describe each patient's presentation, differential diagnosis, diagnostic workup, complications, treatment modalities, and overall course of illness. All cases seek to illustrate the clinical experiences of patients and providers interfacing with vulvar aphthous ulcers and contribute to the emerging literature exploring the novel association between vulvar aphthous ulcers and COVID-19 vaccination. To date, this is the largest described case series of this association in the literature. Key Words: COVID-19, Vaccine, Aphthous ulcers, Vulva, Adolescent.

Vulvar Aphthous Ulcers in an Adolescent After Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Vaccination.

BACKGROUND: Nonsexually acquired genital ulcers have been described among girls who are prepubertal after various viral illnesses due to mucosal inflammation from an immunologic response. Until recently, nonsexually acquired genital ulcers have only been associated with viral infections. CASE: We present a case of an adolescent girl developing nonsexually acquired genital ulcers after both her first and second coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccine doses. Her course followed an expected timeline for severity and resolution of ulcers. CONCLUSIONS: Aphthous ulcers may arise from inflammatory effects of COVID-19 vaccination. Clinical monitoring after COVID-19 vaccination from all formulations should include assessment for nonsexually acquired genital ulcers if vaginal pain is reported.

Adamantiades-Behçet disease: from clinical heterogeneity to diagnosis during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Adamantiades-Behçet disease (ABD) is a systemic disease with vasculitis, characterized by recurrent oral aphthosis and ocular, cutaneous, articular, vascular, cardiopulmonary manifestations and it is mainly found in the territories of the antique "silk road". ABD pathogenesis remains unknown although genetic, infectious and environmental factors seem to be implicated in the development of the disease, which is considered an auto-inflammatory condition. COVID-19 infection can present some symptoms, in particular at the level of oral and pulmonary mucosa, which require a differential diagnosis with ABD. Furthermore, the immunological alterations of this disease, and the drugs used for its treatment could influence the infection by COVID-19, and its clinical evolution. Nevertheless, vaccination anti-COVID-19 is recommended in ABD patients. The most commonly used diagnostic criteria for ABD are those established in 2014 by the International Team for the Revision of the International Criteria for BD (ITR-ICBD). Furthermore, criteria for disease severity according to the Overall Damage Index of Behçet's Syndrome (BODI) have recently been proposed in order to quantify the severity of the disease as well as the evolution during follow-up. In ABD patients it is mandatory to investigate on the presence of active/latent tuberculosis, because of the common organ involvement, such as eyes and bowel. ABD has a high morbidity and low mortality, sometimes linked to the rupture of an arterial aneurysm and/or neurological complications. This article is based on a general review on ABD ranging from the history of ABD to possible causes and clinical manifestations. A specific section has been dedicated to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Covid-19 and oral diseases: Crosstalk, synergy or association?

The coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) is a viral infection caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) that clinically affects multiple organs of the human body. Cells in the oral cavity express viral entry receptor angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 that allows viral replication and may cause tissue inflammation and destruction. Recent studies have reported that Covid-19 patients present oral manifestations with multiple clinical aspects. In this review, we aim to summarise main signs and symptoms of Covid-19 in the oral cavity, its possible association with oral diseases, and the plausible underlying mechanisms of hyperinflammation reflecting crosstalk between Covid-19 and oral diseases. Ulcers, blisters, necrotising gingivitis, opportunistic coinfections, salivary gland alterations, white and erythematous plaques and gustatory dysfunction were the most reported clinical oral manifestations in patients with Covid-19. In general, the lesions appear concomitant with the loss of smell and taste. Multiple reports show evidences of necrotic/ulcerative gingiva, oral blisters and hypergrowth of opportunistic oral pathogens. SARS-CoV-2 exhibits tropism for endothelial cells and Covid-19-mediated endotheliitis can not only promote inflammation in oral tissues but can also facilitate virus spread. In addition, elevated levels of proinflammatory mediators in patients with Covid-19 and oral infectious disease can impair tissue homeostasis and cause delayed disease resolution. This suggests potential crosstalk of immune-mediated pathways underlying pathogenesis. Interestingly, few reports suggest recurrent herpetic lesions and higher bacterial growth in Covid-19 subjects, indicating SARS-CoV-2 and oral virus/bacteria interaction. Larger cohort studies comparing SARS-CoV-2 negative and positive subjects will reveal oral manifestation of the virus on oral health and its role in exacerbating oral infection.