Acute pancreatitis following COVID-19 vaccine: A case report and brief literature review

Abstract

Vaccination is the most effective way to overcome COVID-19 morbidity and mortality. However, Covid-19 vaccines may cause potential adverse effects. We reported a 28-year-old healthy woman who was referred to the emergency department with a chief complaint of severe abdominal pain, nausea and hemoptysis. She has received two doses of COVID-19 vaccine (Sinopharm BIBP). Similar this time, three days after the injection of the second dose of the Sinopharm BIBP COVID-19 vaccine, abdominal and flank pain appeared, for which she has referred to the emergency department. After necessary tests and pancreatitis was confirmed, we started fluid therapy, plasmapheresis, gemfibrozil and insulin for patient management.The COVID-19 vaccines may lead to acute pancreatitis. The mechanism of pancreatitis caused by COVID-19 vaccines is unclear. Acute pancreatitis can develop after COVID-19 vaccination. This process can even happen a few months later. Therefore, to better diagnosis and prevention of long-term complications, it is necessary to measuring the lipase or amylase in patients that received COVID-19 vaccine if abdominal pain was occurred.

Keywords

• Acute pancreatitis
• COVID-19
• Vaccination adverse event
• Sinopharm vaccine
• Safety