Trends in Immunotherapy

Case Report

Two cases of COVID-19 vaccine-related erythema multiforme under the administration of immune checkpoint inhibitors

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https://doi.org/10.24294/ti.v7.i2.2683
Matsuo, A., Nakashima, C., Yanagihara, S., & Otsuka, A. (2023). Two cases of COVID-19 vaccine-related erythema multiforme under the administration of immune checkpoint inhibitors. Trends in Immunotherapy, 7(2). https://doi.org/10.24294/ti.v7.i2.2683
Volume 7 Issue 2 (2023)

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Authors

  • Ayako Matsuo Department of Dermatology, Faculty of Medicine, Kindai University Hospital
  • Chisa Nakashima
    Department of Dermatology, Faculty of Medicine, Kindai University Hospital, Osaka 589-8511, Japan
  • Shigeto Yanagihara
  • Atsushi Otsuka

The COVID-19 pandemic has increased mRNA vaccine usage and revealed various cutaneous adverse events, such as injection site reactions, urticaria, and morbilliform eruptions. Multiple centers have reported erythema multiforme (EM) as a COVID-19 vaccine-associated adverse event. Our center observed two cases of EM in patients receiving immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI) after COVID-19 vaccination. Notably, ICI administration is known to cause cutaneous adverse events, including EM. A previous report indicated that administering COVID-19 vaccination to patients receiving ICI treatment could promote severe systemic symptoms. This raise concerns that COVID-19 vaccination might rapidly worsen skin rashes in these patients. Our report demonstrates that skin rash related to COVID-19 vaccine-induced EM in ICI-treated patients does not significantly differ from that of COVID-19 vaccine-related EM. Additionally, in both cases, the skin rash resolved without exacerbation. Further research is necessary to determine optimal management strategies. However, our findings provide reassurance that COVID-19 vaccination is safe in ICI-treated patients and should not be avoided.

Keywords:

COVID-19 vaccine erythema multiforme immune checkpoint inhibitor

References

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