New Onset and Exacerbation of Autoimmune Bullous Dermatosis Following COVID-19 Vaccination: A Systematic Review

Background: Cases of autoimmune bullous dermatosis (AIBD) have been reported following COVID-19 vaccination.

Objective: We aimed to provide an overview of clinical characteristics, treatments, and outcomes of AIBDs following COVID-19 vaccination.

Methods: We conducted a systematic review and searched the Embase, Cochrane Library, and Medline databases from their inception to 27 March 2024. We included all studies reporting ≥ 1 patient who developed new-onset AIBD or experienced flare of AIBD following at least one dose of any COVID-19 vaccine.

Results: We included 98 studies with 229 patients in the new-onset group and 216 in the flare group. Among the new-onset cases, bullous pemphigoid (BP) was the most frequently reported subtype. Notably, mRNA vaccines were commonly associated with the development of AIBD. Regarding the flare group, pemphigus was the most frequently reported subtype, with the mRNA vaccines being the predominant vaccine type. The onset of AIBD ranged from 1 to 123 days post-vaccination, with most patients displaying favorable outcomes and showing improvement or resolution from 1 week to 8 months after treatment initiation.

Conclusions: Both new-onset AIBD and exacerbation of pre-existing AIBD may occur following COVID-19 vaccination. Healthcare practitioners should be alert, and post-vaccination monitoring may be essential.