COVID-19 vaccine triggered autoimmune hepatitis: case report

Area of Science:

• Hepatology
• Immunology
• Vaccinology

Background:

• Autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) is a chronic inflammatory liver disease of unknown etiology.
• Genetic, environmental, and immunological factors are implicated in AIH pathogenesis.
• Vaccination has been anecdotally associated with AIH exacerbation.

Observation:

• A young female presented with jaundice and elevated liver enzymes post-COVID-19 vaccination.
• She had a recent history of COVID-19 infection and chronic analgesic use.
• Extensive workup confirmed a diagnosis of autoimmune hepatitis.

Findings:

• The patient's AIH diagnosis showed a temporal relationship with COVID-19 vaccination.
• The vaccination may have triggered or enhanced a pre-existing autoimmune condition.
• Causality is indeterminate but suggests a potential adverse event following immunization.

Implications:

• This case highlights a potential, albeit rare, association between COVID-19 vaccines and AIH.
• Further research is needed to explore vaccine-induced autoimmune events.
• Clinicians should consider AIH in patients presenting with liver dysfunction post-vaccination.