Giant cell arteritis presenting with chronic cough and headache after BNT162b2 mRNA COVID-19 vaccination
Kosuke Ishizuka, K Katayama, Yoshiyuki Ohira
Abstract
A 74-year-old Japanese man presented with cough and headache following the Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination. Two months before, the day after the third dose of BNT162b2 mRNA COVID-19 vaccination, he presented with a left temporal headache. One month ago, he developed a right temporal headache and cough. His medical history revealed hypertension, for which he was prescribed amlodipine (2.5 mg/ day). Physical examination was unremarkable. Auscultation and chest radiograph were normal. His C-reactive protein (6.32 mg/dl) levels and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (79 mm/ h) were elevated. Neck and chest contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CT) showed no abnormalities of the lung, thoracic aorta, its branches or pulmonary arteries. Positron emission tomography/CT (PET/CT) showed hyperaccumulation in the thoracic aorta, subclavian, axillary, brachial and temporal arteries (Figure Giant cell arteritis (GCA) was diagnosed. Symptoms improved with oral administration of prednisolone (30 mg/day).