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Post-inflammatory Pigmentary Alteration (PIPA)-Like Disorder Following COVID-19 Vaccination
Larry M Bush1,2, Priscila M Fiallo2, Maria T Vazquez-Pertejo3
1Charles E. Schmidt College of Medicine, Florida Atlantic University, Boca Raton, USA.
Abstract:
SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) infection has been associated with various cutaneous manifestations presenting concomitantly with and following clinical resolution of active infection. Similarly, a variety of cutaneous conditions after mRNA-based COVID-19 vaccination, including specific local injection-site reactions, type I hypersensitivity, type IV (delayed) responses, and autoimmune-mediated reactions, has been observed. The commonality between natural infection and vaccination-related skin findings suggests a molecular mimicry of an immunologic nature. We present a case of a previously undescribed incident of cutaneous hyperpigmentation secondary to melanocyte dysfunction and melanin overproduction, triggered by an inflammatory event, in this case, immunization with an mRNA COVID-19 vaccine.
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