A Case of Hypophysitis Associated With SARS-CoV-2 Vaccination

Anvitha R. Ankireddypalli, MD; Lisa S. Chow, MD, MS; Angela Radulescu, MD; Yasuhiko Kawakami, PhD; Takako Araki, MD

AACE Clinical Case Reports (Sep 2022)

A Case of Hypophysitis Associated With SARS-CoV-2 Vaccination

Anvitha R. Ankireddypalli, MD,
Lisa S. Chow, MD, MS,
Angela Radulescu, MD,
Yasuhiko Kawakami, PhD,
Takako Araki, MD

Affiliations

Anvitha R. Ankireddypalli, MD: Division of Diabetes, Endocrinology and Metabolism, Department of Medicine, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota
Lisa S. Chow, MD, MS: Division of Diabetes, Endocrinology and Metabolism, Department of Medicine, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota
Angela Radulescu, MD: Division of Diabetes, Endocrinology and Metabolism, Department of Medicine, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota
Yasuhiko Kawakami, PhD: Department of Genetics, Cell Biology and Development, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota; Stem Cell Institute, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota
Takako Araki, MD: Division of Diabetes, Endocrinology and Metabolism, Department of Medicine, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota; Address correspondence to Dr Takako Araki, Division of Diabetes, Endocrinology and Metabolism, University of Minnesota, 516 Delaware Street, SE, Minneapolis, MN 55455.

Journal volume & issue: Vol. 8, no. 5
pp. 204 – 209

Abstract

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Background/Objective: Although SARS-CoV-2 vaccines have been developed with multiple novel technologies and rapidly disseminated worldwide, the full profile of adverse effects has not been known. Recently, there are sporadic but increasing reports of endocrinopathy in relation to SARS-CoV-2 vaccination. Here we report a rare case of hypophysitis with acute onset of diabetes insipidus, immediately after SARS-CoV-2 vaccination. Case Report: A 48-year-old female patient had been in her usual state of health until she received the first SARS-CoV-2 vaccine. Two days after vaccination, she started to have flu-like symptoms, including severe headache and myalgia as well as persistent headache, polydipsia, and polyuria. She was diagnosed with diabetes insipidus, and magnetic resonance imaging revealed thickening of the pituitary stalk. Three months after vaccination, her symptoms had somewhat improved, but she still had pituitary stalk thickening on magnetic resonance imaging. Discussion: Given the timing of the occurrence of diabetes insipidus, we believe that the patient’s hypophysitis may be associated with SARS-CoV-2 vaccination. We also found 19 cases of endocrinopathy after SARS-CoV-2 vaccination by literature search. The reported endocrine organs were the thyroid, pituitary, and adrenals. Twelve cases of diabetes were also reported. Among 3 pituitary cases, diabetes insipidus was reported only in our case. Conclusion: We report a rare case of SARS-CoV-2 vaccine-triggered hypophysitis, which led to diabetes insipidus. SARS-CoV-2 vaccine–related endocrinopathy seems, indeed, possible. Endocrinopathy is associated with infrequent complications; however, it may be underestimated in the post–SARS-CoV-2-vaccinated population. Further studies are warranted to better understand SARS-CoV-2 vaccine–related endocrinopathy.

Published in AACE Clinical Case Reports

ISSN: 2376-0605 (Online)
Publisher: Elsevier
Country of publisher: United States
LCC subjects: Medicine: Internal medicine: Specialties of internal medicine: Diseases of the endocrine glands. Clinical endocrinology
Website: https://www.journals.elsevier.com/aace-clinical-case-reports

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