Two Cases of Autoimmune Thyroid Disorders after COVID Vaccination in Dialysis Patients

Abstract

SARS-CoV-2 infection and vaccination have been associated with autoimmune thyroid dysfunctions. Autoimmune/inflammatory syndrome induced by adjuvants (ASIA) and molecular mimicry have been referred to as potential causes. Such a case has not been reported in immunocompromised end-stage renal disease (ESRD) patients. Herein we present two dialysis patients with no previous history of thyroid disease who developed immune mediated thyroid disorders after BNT162b mRNA vaccine against SARS-CoV-2. The first patient is a 29-year-old man on hemodialysis diagnosed with Grave’s disease four months post-vaccination and the second one is a 67-year-old female on peritoneal dialysis who developed Hashimoto’s thyroiditis two months post-vaccination. Grave’s disease is uncommon in dialysis patients, whereas Hashimoto’s thyroiditis has a higher incidence in this population. Time proximity in both cases suggests potential causality. To our knowledge, this is the first report of de novo immune-mediated thyroid disorders in dialysis patients following vaccination against SARS-CoV-2.