COVID-19 Vaccination and New Onset Glomerular Disease: Results from the IRocGN2 International Registry
Authors: Waldman Meryl , Sinaii Ninet , Lerma Edgar V. , Kurien Anila Abraham , Jhaveri Kenar D. , Uppal Nupur N. , Wanchoo Rimda , Avasare Rupali , Zuckerman Jonathan E. , Liew Adrian , Gallan Alexander J. , El-Meanawy Ashraf , Yagil Yoram , Lebedev Larissa , Baskaran Krishoban , Vilayur Eswari , Cohen Adrienne , Weerasinghe Nethmi , Petrakis Ioannis , Stylianou Kostas , Gakiopoulou Hariklia , Hamilton Alexander J. , Edney Naomi , Millner Rachel , Marinaki Smaragdi , Rein Joshua L. , Killen John Paul , Rodríguez Chagolla Jose Manuel , Bassil Claude , Lopez del Valle Ramon , Evans Jordan , Urisman Anatoly , Zawaideh Mona , Baxi Pravir V. , Rodby Roger , Vankalakunti Mahesha , Mejia Vilet Juan M. , Ramirez Andrade Silvia E. , Homan Mal P. , Vásquez Jiménez Enzo , Perinpanayagam Natasha , Velez Juan Carlos Q. , Mohamed Muner M.B. , Mohammed Khalid M.G. , Sekar Arjun , Ollila Laura , Aron Abraham W. , Arellano Arteaga Kevin Javier , Islam Mahmud , Berrio Esperanza Moral , Maoujoud Omar , Morales Rebecca Ruf , Seipp Regan , Schulze Carl E. , Yenchek Robert H. , Vancea Irina , Muneeb Muhammad , Howard Lilian , Caza Tiffany N. 
Published: December 2022

Key Points

IgAN and MCD are the most common de novo glomerular diseases reported after COVID-19 vaccination, particularly after mRNA vaccination.

Membranous nephropathy, pauci-immune GN, and collapsing GN have also been attributed to COVID-19 vaccination, some with dual histologies.

Recovery of kidney function and proteinuria remission is more likely in IgAN and MCD by 4–6 months compared with the other glomerular diseases.

Background

Patients with de novo glomerular disease (GD) with various renal histologies have been reported after vaccination against SARS-CoV-2. Causality has not been established, and the long-term outcomes are not known. To better characterize the GDs and clinical courses/outcomes, we created the International Registry of COVID-19 vaccination and Glomerulonephritis to study in aggregate patients with de novo GN suspected after COVID-19 vaccine exposure.

Methods

A REDCap survey was used for anonymized data collection. Detailed information on vaccination type and timing and GD histology were recorded in the registry. We collected serial information on laboratory values (before and after vaccination and during follow-up), treatments, and kidney-related outcomes.

Results

Ninety-eight patients with GD were entered into the registry over 11 months from 44 centers throughout the world. Median follow-up was 89 days after diagnosis. IgA nephropathy (IgAN) and minimal change disease (MCD) were the most common kidney diseases reported. Recovery of kidney function and remission of proteinuria were more likely in IgAN and MCD at 4–6 months than with pauci-immune GN/vasculitis and membranous nephropathy.

Conclusions

The development of GD after vaccination against SARS-CoV-2 may be a very rare adverse event. Temporal association is present for IgAN and MCD, but causality is not firmly established. Kidney outcomes for IgAN and MCD are favorable. No changes in vaccination risk-benefit assessment are recommended based on these findings.