Severe aplastic anaemia after serial vaccinations for SARS-CoV-2, pneumococcus and seasonal influenza

EJHaem. 2022 May 4;3(3):983-988. doi: 10.1002/jha2.443. eCollection 2022 Aug.

Abstract

We present a 67-year-old woman who developed progressive pancytopenia over 10 months, concomitant with administration of severe adult respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2), pneumococcal and influenza vaccines. She developed mild leukopenia ∼2 weeks after the SARS-CoV-2 mRNA vaccine sequence, with progressive symptoms after subsequent vaccines, eventually developing severe aplastic anaemia (SAA). While there have been several reports of vaccine-related SAA, at time of submission, our case is the first reported to develop after the Moderna mRNA SARS-CoV-2 vaccine, as well as the first to document the gradual development of SAA over the course of many vaccine exposures. Physicians should be cognizant of vaccine-associated SAA, considering current widespread coronavirus disease 2019 vaccination efforts.

Keywords: COVID‐19; SARS‐CoV‐2; aplastic anaemia; case report; immunization; paroxysmal nocturnal haemoglobinuria.

Publication types

  • Case Reports