Iran Medical Council Journal of Iranian Medical Council 2645-338X 8 1 2025 01 01 The Flare-up of Rheumatic Autoimmune Diseases Following COVID-19 Vaccination 38 49 203047 10.18502/jimc.v8i1.17059 EN Maryam Sahebari Rheumatic Diseases Research Center, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran 0000-0003-3609-9041 Fahimeh Otani Rheumatic Diseases Research Center, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran Zahra Rezaieyazdi Rheumatic Diseases Research Center, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran 0000-0002-1811-1572 Masoumeh Salari Rheumatic Diseases Research Center, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran 0000-0002-3443-8516 Zahra Mirfeizi Rheumatic Diseases Research Center, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran 0000-0002-8879-6263 Rozita Khodashahi Clinical Research Development Unit, Imam Reza Hospital, Faculty of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran Transplant Research Center, Montaserieh Hospital, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran Department of Infectious Diseases and Tropical Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran Moeid Reza Alipour Rheumatic Diseases Research Center, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran Muhammed Joghatayi Rheumatic Diseases Research Center, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran Hassan Mehrad Majd Clinical Research Development Unit, Faculty of Medicine, Ghaem hospital, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran Mandana Khodashahi Rheumatic Diseases Research Center, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran 0000-0002-6195-898X Journal Article 2024 01 13 <strong>Background:</strong> Individuals with Autoimmune Rheumatic Disease (AIRD) are vulnerability to severe SARS-CoV-2 outcomes and vaccination. The present study aimed to determine the incidence of AIRDs flares following COVID-19 vaccination and its risk factors. <br><strong>Methods:</strong> The study was retrospective cross-sectional focused on patients with AIRD who experienced a flare-up at least during 30 days after receiving the COVID-19 vaccine. These patients were seen at Rheumatology Clinics at Imam Reza and Ghaem Hospitals, affiliated with Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, as well as private clinics in Mashhad, Iran, over a period of 1 years.<br><strong>Results:</strong> The rate of recurrence following COVID-19 vaccination was estimated to be 3.16%. Rheumatoid arthritis (18.9%), systemic lupus erythematosus (12.9%), and cutaneous vasculitis (10.6%) were the most frequent AIRDs among patients who experienced a flare-up following COVID-19 vaccination. More than 85% of patients who were vaccinated with AstraZeneca experienced a flare-up after the first dose of vaccination. In the majority of patients, the flare-up occurred after the first dosage of COVID-19 vaccination.<br><strong>Conclusion: </strong>In Mashhad, Iran, the incidence of flare-ups in autoimmune and inflammatory rheumatic diseases following COVID-19 vaccination is estimated to be a mere 3%. Despite their rarity, flare-ups in autoimmune and inflammatory rheumatic diseases post-COVID-19 vaccination can still pose a public health issue, potentially undermining public confidence in vaccinations.<br><br> https://www.jimc.ir/article_203047_4a3a847ec9bf91c49da51296973a1b4c.pdf