INACTIVATED COVID-19 VACCINE CAN INDUCE REACTIVE POLYARTHRITIS IN OLDER PATIENTS: REPORT OF TWO CASES

Abstract

Reactive arthritis is an acute, sterile, non-suppurative and inflammatory arthropathy that usually follows infection process. Gastrointestinal, genitourinary and respiratory tract infections generally provoke reactive arthritis. Also, reactive arthritis can be seen after vaccination. Reactive arthritis cases have been reported after tetanus, combined diphteria-poliomyelitis-tetanus toxoid, hepatitis B or influenza vaccination. Although reactive arthritis is more common in youngs, healthcare workers should be aware of the development of post inactivated COVID-19 vaccine reactive arthritis in older patients. We present two cases with ReA induced by inactivated coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination (CoronaVac, Sinovac). Both patients in our study were over 70 years old and presented with polyarthritis that developed after vaccination. Rheumatoid factor and anti-nucleer antibody were negative and patients responded well to short-term steroid therapy, arthritis were not resistant.