Related Experiment Video
Updated: Oct 22, 2025

Author Spotlight: Advancing Immune Monitoring in Critical Care Patients Using Whole Blood Assays
Published on: September 20, 2024
Clinicopathological features of cutaneous reactions after mRNA-based COVID-19 vaccines
M Tihy1, S Menzinger1,2, R André2
1Department of Clinical Pathology, University Hospital of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland.
Background:
Cutaneous reactions, mostly on injection site after mRNA-based COVID-19 vaccines, have been reported but not with detailed histopathological characterization.
Objectives:
Characterization and classification of these reactions in a clinical and pathological point of view.
Methods:
Monocentric case series of 11 patients with cutaneous manifestations, clinically and histologically characterized after COVID-19 vaccination.
Results:
From January to June 2021, we recorded 11 cutaneous reactions to mRNA COVID-19 vaccines from BNT162b2 (n = 8) and mRNA-1273 (n = 3). Generalized reactions showing erythematous rash or purpura were the most common clinical presentation, and drug-reaction-like pattern was the most common histological finding.
Conclusions:
A proper clinicopathological classification will be helpful in the early diagnosis and management of the cutaneous reactions to mRNA COVID-19 vaccines.
Related Concept Videos
Vaccinations
Cross-reactivity
Allergic Reactions
Allergic Drug Reactions
Skin Diseases and Disorders
Gram-positive Staphylococcus spp. and Streptococcus spp. are responsible for many of the most common skin infections. However, many...
Conjugated Proteins
Nucleoproteins are protein complexes that contain nucleic acids, categorized as deoxyribonucleoproteins (DNPs) or ribonucleoproteins (RNPs) respectively. The nucleosome is a typical example of a DNP where nuclear DNA is associated with histone proteins. The major antigen for the Covid-19 virus SARS-CoV is an RNP that is critical...

