Inflammatory immune-mediated adverse reactions induced by COVID-19 vaccines in previously injected patients with soft tissue fillers: A case series of 20 patients

Abstract

Background Adverse events (AE) after COVID-19 vaccines, particularly, but not solely, with those messenger RNA (mRNA)-based vaccines, have rarely been reported in patients previously treated with dermal fillers (DF). Objective To evaluate the morphology, clinical characteristics, the timing of presentation, and outcomes of inflammatory AE appeared in patients injected with DF, after anti-COVID-19 vaccination. Methods Descriptive study of a case series of 20 consecutive patients collected after the occurrence of AE in previously filled areas post COVID-19 vaccination. Results From January 2021 to July 2021, we analyzed 20 AE reactions triggered by COVID-19 vaccines in the previously mentioned cohort. They were vaccinated with Pfizer/Biontech (11; 55%), Moderna (5; 25%), Astra-Zeneca (3; 15%), and Sputnik (1; 5%). The most common manifestations were oedema/swelling, angioedema, erythema, skin induration, and granuloma. Less common reactions included myalgia and lymphadenopathy. In 13/20 (65%) cases, the AE appeared after the first dose of vaccine. These inflammatory AE appeared more rapidly after the second dose than after the first one. In 13/20 (65%) cases, the symptomatology subsided with anti-inflammatory/antihistaminic drugs, while spontaneously in 3/20 (15%). The manifestations are ongoing.in the remaining four cases (20%). Conclusion Although probably rare, both RNA-based and adenovirus-based anti-COVID-19 vaccines can cause inflammatory bouts in patients previously treated with DF. In these cases, caution should be paid on subsequent vaccine doses, considering a tailored risk/benefit for any case before next vaccination.