Autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) following COVID-19 vaccination; Twenty-seven (27) cases of AIH emerged indicating evidence of autoimmune reactions in response to various COVID-19 vaccine (Zheng et al.)

SOURCE:

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36505482/

This research provides ‘emerging evidence of autoimmune reactions in response to various COVID-19 vaccines, including in patients with special disease backgrounds such as primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC), liver transplantation, and previous hepatitis C virus (HCV) treatment. Molecular mimicry, adjuvants, epitope spreading, bystander activation, X chromosome, and sceptical hepatotropism of SARS-CoV-2 may account for, to some extent, such autoimmune phenomena. Immunosuppressive corticosteroids perform well with or without azathioprine in such post-COVID-19-vaccination AIH. However, determination of the exact mechanism and establishment of causality require further confirmation.’

‘The possible mechanisms that may occur behind the scenes include molecular mimicry, adjuvants, epitope spreading, bystander activation, X chromosome, and sceptical hepatotropism of SARS-CoV-2. For ordinarily developed AIH, initial treatments include high doses of immunosuppressive corticosteroids, which are then tapered gradually using azathioprine to minimize adverse effects (81). This fundamental treatment still works when extended to the more complex situation of AIH following COVID-19 vaccination.’