Acute corneal graft rejection after anti-severe acute respiratory syndrome-coronavirus-2 vaccination: A report of four cases. Issue 2 (March 2023)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Balidis, Miltiadis; Mikropoulos, Dimitrios; Gatzioufas, Zisis; de Politis, Penelope B; Sidiropoulos, Georgios; Vassiliadis, Vassilios
• Is Part Of: European journal of ophthalmology. Volume 33:Issue 2(2023)
• Page Start: NP26
• Page End: NP30
• Publication Date: 2023-03
• Subjects: Cornea -- graft -- rejection -- vaccination -- anti-severe acute respiratory syndrome-coronavirus-2 -- COVID-19; Ophthalmology -- Periodicals; Eye -- Diseases -- Periodicals; 617.7005
• DOI: 10.1177/11206721211064033
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1120-6721

Abstract

Purpose: This study intends to add to previous reports on acute corneal graft rejection following anti-severe acute respiratory syndrome-coronavirus-2 vaccination, providing data to corroborate a possible causative relationship between anti-COVID-19 immunization and corneal graft rejection, regardless of vaccine or graft type. Methods and Results: This report describes 4 cases of acute-onset rejection as early as 5 days following the first dose of anti-severe acute respiratory syndrome-coronavirus-2 vaccine types not yet referred for corneal allograft. Patients were individually given the Moderna messenger RNA-1273 COVID-19 vaccine (2 patients) and the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine, Vaxzevria, AZD1222 (2 patients). Conclusions: Even though a direct causative effect is hard to prove, temporal proximity between anti-severe acute respiratory syndrome-coronavirus-2 vaccines of different types and consecutive reports of corneal graft rejection indicates the need for further investigation. Consistent advice must be given to corneal transplant patients regarding such risk.