Adult-Onset Still’s Disease After an mRNA COVID-19 Vaccine in an Older Woman

TL;DR

An 82-year-old woman developed adult-onset Still’s disease after receiving an mRNA COVID-19 vaccine, suggesting a rare immune-related adverse effect.

Contribution

Reports a rare case of AOSD in an older individual following an mRNA COVID-19 vaccine, expanding understanding of vaccine-related immune responses.

Findings

AOSD can occur in older individuals after mRNA COVID-19 vaccination.

AOSD is a rare immune-mediated adverse event associated with mRNA vaccines.

The case highlights the need for monitoring immune-related adverse events in older populations post-vaccination.

Abstract

Adult-onset Still’s disease (AOSD) is an uncommon autoinflammatory disorder without a clear etiology that primarily affects young adults. New-onset disease at > 80 years of age is uncommon. We present the case of an 82-year-old woman with AOSD which developed after receiving a messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccine. COVID-19 vaccines are known to cause overproduction of cytokines, systemic inflammation, and some immune-mediated adverse events, such as rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus, dermatomyositis, vasculitis, and polymyalgia rheumatica after the vaccination has been reported. A handful of cases of AOSD after the vaccination have also been reported and the median age was 40s. However, AOSD related to COVID-19 vaccination can develop even in older individuals.

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