Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada Disease following mRNA-1273 (Moderna) COVID-19 Vaccination

ABSTRACT

Purpose

To report a case of Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada (VKH) disease following mRNA-1273 (Moderna) COVID-19 vaccination.

Methods

Retrospective case report.

Results

A 50-year-old Korean woman developed bilateral serous retinal detachment 35 days after the first dose of COVID-19 mRNA vaccination (mRNA-1273, Moderna). She experienced adverse effects such as erythema and pain at the injection site, headache, myalgia, and allergy symptoms prior to ocular manifestation. She was diagnosed with Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada (VKH) disease. After treatment with oral prednisolone, the serous retinal detachment resolved and vision improved.

Conclusion

COVID-19 vaccination might be associated with VKH disease development, and the ingredients of the mRNA vaccine or viral peptide encoded by mRNA may have activated the immunological process and induced VKH disease.

KEYWORDS:

• COVID-19 vaccine
• mRNA-1273 (moderna)
• SARS-CoV-2
• vaccine side effects
• vogt-koyanagi-harada disease

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Ethics approvals

This study was exempted from review by the Institutional Review Board of the Kangdong Sacred Heart Hospital.

Declaration of patient consent

The authors certify that they have obtained all appropriate patient consent forms. In the form, the patient has given consent for the use of images and other clinical information to be reported in the journal. The patient understands that her name and initials will not be published and due efforts will be made to conceal her identity, but anonymity cannot be guaranteed.

Additional information

Funding

This study was supported by the Korean Association of Retinal Degeneration.