Hypophysitis after COVID-19 vaccination in a patient with Rathke's cleft cyst: A case report

Hum Vaccin Immunother. 2024 Dec 31;20(1):2297455. doi: 10.1080/21645515.2023.2297455. Epub 2024 Jan 4.

Abstract

With the widespread vaccination of COVID-19 vaccine, a few cases have been reported that COVID-19 vaccine may cause endocrine disorders. A 59-y-old man presented with a loss of appetite after the first COVID-19 vaccination, which resolved spontaneously after 3 d. After the second COVID-19 vaccination, the symptoms including the loss of appetite, nausea, and vomiting reappeared and worsened along with loss of vision. He was found to have severe hyponatremia, and further investigations revealed secondary adrenal insufficiency, secondary hypothyroidism and Rathke's cleft cyst. The patient responded well to glucocorticoid and levothyroxine supplementation, and at 1-y follow-up the patient developed hypogonadism. We hypothesize that hypophysitis is probably induced by COVID-19 vaccine and report the rare but serious adverse reactions for early recognition and intervention.

Keywords: COVID-19 vaccination; Rathke’s cleft cyst; adverse reaction; hyponatremia; hypophysitis.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • COVID-19 Vaccines* / adverse effects
  • COVID-19* / prevention & control
  • Central Nervous System Cysts* / complications
  • Humans
  • Hypophysitis* / chemically induced
  • Male
  • Middle Aged

Substances

  • COVID-19 Vaccines

Grants and funding

The work was supported by Air Force Logistics Department under Grant number BKJ20J004.