Hepatic and pulmonary involvement in a patient with PR3-ANCA vasculitis following SARS-CoV-2 vaccination: A case report

Mod Rheumatol Case Rep. 2023 Jun 19;7(2):440-443. doi: 10.1093/mrcr/rxad005.

Abstract

We here report the first case of anti-proteinase 3-positive anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies (ANCA)-associated vasculitis following the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine presenting with prominent liver involvement and alveolar haemorrhage. Two weeks after vaccination, a 49-year-old man developed inflammatory arthralgias and hypertransaminasaemia. Two months later, fever and haemoptysis appeared; the patient tested positive for anti-proteinase 3 autoantibodies. High-dose steroids and rituximab were started, and complete remission was achieved. Systemic autoimmune diseases, including ANCA-associated vasculitis, should always be considered in the differential diagnosis of hypertransaminasaemia, especially when the clinical context is suspicious.

Keywords: PR3-ANCA; alveolar haemorrhage; autoimmunity; hypertransaminasaemia; immunology.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Anti-Neutrophil Cytoplasmic Antibody-Associated Vasculitis* / diagnosis
  • Anti-Neutrophil Cytoplasmic Antibody-Associated Vasculitis* / etiology
  • Antibodies, Antineutrophil Cytoplasmic
  • COVID-19 Vaccines / adverse effects
  • COVID-19* / diagnosis
  • COVID-19* / prevention & control
  • Humans
  • Liver
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Myeloblastin
  • SARS-CoV-2
  • Vaccination

Substances

  • Antibodies, Antineutrophil Cytoplasmic
  • COVID-19 Vaccines
  • Myeloblastin