Severe Hepatitis-associated Aplastic Anemia Following COVID-19 mRNA Vaccination

Abstract

We herein report a case of hepatitis-associated aplastic anemia (HAAA) that occurred after severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) vaccination. In this patient, progressive pancytopenia observed two months after acute hepatitis following the second dose of the SARS-CoV-2 vaccine indicated the development of HAAA. Although some reports have suggested that SARS-CoV-2 vaccination may be involved in the development of autoimmune diseases, no cases of HAAA developing after SARS-CoV-2 vaccination have been reported. SARS-CoV-2 vaccination in children has only started relatively recently, so the range of side effects in children has not yet been thoroughly described. Therefore, we need to strengthen surveillance for symptoms of children who are vaccinated.