Varicella Zoster Virus Reactivation Following COVID-19 Vaccination: A Systematic Review of Case Reports
The newly developed COVID-19 vaccines have established a safe profile, yet some individuals experience a wide range of adverse events. Recently, reactivation of varicella zoster virus (VZV) has been observed after administration of different COVID-19 vaccines, although causality remains a matter of...
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
MDPI AG
2021-09-01
|
| Series: | Vaccines |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-393X/9/9/1013 |
| _version_ | 1797517015558127616 |
|---|---|
| author | Konstantinos Katsikas Triantafyllidis Panagiotis Giannos Imran Tariq Mian George Kyrtsonis Konstantinos S. Kechagias |
| author_facet | Konstantinos Katsikas Triantafyllidis Panagiotis Giannos Imran Tariq Mian George Kyrtsonis Konstantinos S. Kechagias |
| author_sort | Konstantinos Katsikas Triantafyllidis |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The newly developed COVID-19 vaccines have established a safe profile, yet some individuals experience a wide range of adverse events. Recently, reactivation of varicella zoster virus (VZV) has been observed after administration of different COVID-19 vaccines, although causality remains a matter of debate. The aim of this systematic review was to examine the available literature and provide an overview of reported cases of VZV reactivation following COVID-19 vaccination. We identified 12 eligible articles which included 91 patients with herpes zoster (HZ) following COVID-19 vaccination. Hypertension was the main comorbidity present in 18% of patients (16/91). Additionally, 13% of patients (12/91) had an autoimmune condition with rheumatoid arthritis being the most common (4/12). Moreover, 10% of patients (9/91) were receiving immunosuppressants. The dermatomal distribution of skin lesions varied among patients, with the mammary region being most affected. On average, symptoms developed 5.8 days post-vaccination irrespective of dose and treatment with oral valacyclovir as a monotherapy was employed in most patients (23/91). HZ is possibly a condition clinicians may expect to encounter in patients receiving COVID-19 vaccines. While causality has not yet been established increased awareness and early recognition of the disorder would be crucial for the optimal management of these patients. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T07:09:03Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-cb7ee396484648419b697fba52afef85 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2076-393X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T07:09:03Z |
| publishDate | 2021-09-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Vaccines |
| spelling | doaj.art-cb7ee396484648419b697fba52afef852023-11-22T15:34:51ZengMDPI AGVaccines2076-393X2021-09-0199101310.3390/vaccines9091013Varicella Zoster Virus Reactivation Following COVID-19 Vaccination: A Systematic Review of Case ReportsKonstantinos Katsikas Triantafyllidis0Panagiotis Giannos1Imran Tariq Mian2George Kyrtsonis3Konstantinos S. Kechagias4Department of Nutrition & Dietetics, Musgrove Park Hospital, Taunton & Somerset NHS Foundation Trust, Taunton TA1 5DA, UKSociety of Meta-Research and Biomedical Innovation, London W12 0BZ, UKBrighton and Sussex Medical School, Falmer BN1 9PX, UKDepartment of General Surgery, Croydon University Hospital, Croydon, London CR7 7YE, UKSociety of Meta-Research and Biomedical Innovation, London W12 0BZ, UKThe newly developed COVID-19 vaccines have established a safe profile, yet some individuals experience a wide range of adverse events. Recently, reactivation of varicella zoster virus (VZV) has been observed after administration of different COVID-19 vaccines, although causality remains a matter of debate. The aim of this systematic review was to examine the available literature and provide an overview of reported cases of VZV reactivation following COVID-19 vaccination. We identified 12 eligible articles which included 91 patients with herpes zoster (HZ) following COVID-19 vaccination. Hypertension was the main comorbidity present in 18% of patients (16/91). Additionally, 13% of patients (12/91) had an autoimmune condition with rheumatoid arthritis being the most common (4/12). Moreover, 10% of patients (9/91) were receiving immunosuppressants. The dermatomal distribution of skin lesions varied among patients, with the mammary region being most affected. On average, symptoms developed 5.8 days post-vaccination irrespective of dose and treatment with oral valacyclovir as a monotherapy was employed in most patients (23/91). HZ is possibly a condition clinicians may expect to encounter in patients receiving COVID-19 vaccines. While causality has not yet been established increased awareness and early recognition of the disorder would be crucial for the optimal management of these patients.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-393X/9/9/1013coronavirusSARS-CoV-2COVID-19 vaccineVaricella zoster virusherpes zostersystematic review |
| spellingShingle | Konstantinos Katsikas Triantafyllidis Panagiotis Giannos Imran Tariq Mian George Kyrtsonis Konstantinos S. Kechagias Varicella Zoster Virus Reactivation Following COVID-19 Vaccination: A Systematic Review of Case Reports Vaccines coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 COVID-19 vaccine Varicella zoster virus herpes zoster systematic review |
| title | Varicella Zoster Virus Reactivation Following COVID-19 Vaccination: A Systematic Review of Case Reports |
| title_full | Varicella Zoster Virus Reactivation Following COVID-19 Vaccination: A Systematic Review of Case Reports |
| title_fullStr | Varicella Zoster Virus Reactivation Following COVID-19 Vaccination: A Systematic Review of Case Reports |
| title_full_unstemmed | Varicella Zoster Virus Reactivation Following COVID-19 Vaccination: A Systematic Review of Case Reports |
| title_short | Varicella Zoster Virus Reactivation Following COVID-19 Vaccination: A Systematic Review of Case Reports |
| title_sort | varicella zoster virus reactivation following covid 19 vaccination a systematic review of case reports |
| topic | coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 COVID-19 vaccine Varicella zoster virus herpes zoster systematic review |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-393X/9/9/1013 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT konstantinoskatsikastriantafyllidis varicellazostervirusreactivationfollowingcovid19vaccinationasystematicreviewofcasereports AT panagiotisgiannos varicellazostervirusreactivationfollowingcovid19vaccinationasystematicreviewofcasereports AT imrantariqmian varicellazostervirusreactivationfollowingcovid19vaccinationasystematicreviewofcasereports AT georgekyrtsonis varicellazostervirusreactivationfollowingcovid19vaccinationasystematicreviewofcasereports AT konstantinosskechagias varicellazostervirusreactivationfollowingcovid19vaccinationasystematicreviewofcasereports |