International Journal of Infectious Diseases (Nov 2021)

COVID vaccination and asthma exacerbation: might there be a link?

  • Marta Colaneri,
  • Maria De Filippo,
  • Amelia Licari,
  • Alessia Marseglia,
  • Laura Maiocchi,
  • Alessandra Ricciardi,
  • Angelo Corsico,
  • Gianluigi Marseglia,
  • Mario Umberto Mondelli,
  • Raffaele Bruno

Journal volume & issue
Vol. 112
pp. 243 – 246

Abstract

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ABSTRACT: Introduction: There is ongoing debate regarding the role of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection in asthma exacerbation, and its long-term impact on the lung function of individuals with asthma. In contrast, the potential impact of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination on asthma is entirely unexplored. Case study: This study examined a challenging case of severe asthma exacerbation in a 28-year-old female following two doses of the mRNA-based vaccine BNT162b2 (Pfizer-BioNTech) at IRCCS Policlinico San Matteo in Pavia, Italy. The patient, a fourth-year resident at the hospital, was vaccinated in early 2021. She was an occasional smoker with a 10-year history of asthma and seasonal allergic rhinitis. She tested negative for SARS-CoV-2 on several molecular swabs and serology tests. Results: After receiving the second dose of vaccine, the patient started to experience worsening of respiratory symptoms. Following several episodes and a severe asthma attack, the patient required treatment with mepolizumab, a biologic drug (interleukin-5) antagonist monoclonal antibody. Conclusion: This single case study is insufficient to draw conclusions about the association between asthma exacerbation and the COVID-19 vaccine. While the cause–effect link between vaccination against SARS-CoV-2 and worsening of asthmatic disease might only be suggested at present, this case is a valuable prompt for further investigation. This is particularly true from the perspective of mass vaccination of adolescents and children currently underway across the globe.

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