From Pandemic Rumors to Reality: Arthritis Development and Exacerbations in Autoimmune Diseases After COVID-19 Vaccines

ABSTRACT

Introduction: There are similarities in the pathogenesis of COVID-19 and autoimmune diseases. In addition, due to the molecular similarities between the antigens of the virus and the antigenic structures in the human body, autoimmune diseases such as arthritis may occur or exacerbate after COVID-19 vaccines. In this publication, a retrospective evaluation of the patients who applied to the Rheumatology Outpatient Clinic with arthritis and other autoimmune complaints that developed or exacerbated after the COVID-19 vaccine was performed. Materials and Methods: Patients who applied to the Rheumatology outpatient clinics of our hospital were screened retrospectively, and patients who presented with newly developed or exacerbated autoimmune complaints after COVID-19 vaccination were determined. The files of these patients were reviewed retrospectively. Demographic characteristics of the patients, history of rheumatological disease, COVID-19 vaccinations, mean time to symptom development after vaccination, localization of arthritis, laboratory findings, imaging findings, treatment and treatment response were evaluated. Results: There are seven patients who applied to Rheumatology clinics with newly developed or exacerbated autoimmune complaints after COVID-19 vaccination in the last year. Three patients (no previous history of rheumatological disease) had newly emerged inflammatory arthritis, one stable gout, and one Sjögrens syndrome patient had exacerbated arthritis and two dermatomyositis cases (one newly diagnosed and the other exacerbation). Conclusion: The benefits of the vaccines are greater than the side effects that may develop, and vaccination should be continued in line with the recommendations. Although the temporal connection between the appearance of symptoms and the vaccination procedure in our study supports the relationship with the COVID-19 vaccine, it should never be forgotten that vaccines are the most effective way to prevent the disease.