G6PD Mutation & Vaccine Complications

A 72-year-old patient presenting with an inguinal mass and a history of asthma and edema, received two doses of the COVID-19 vaccine in 2021. Approximately two weeks after the second dose, he developed a myriad of symptoms, including dyspnea, palpitations, and edema. Despite local clinic treatments, the symptoms worsened, eventually leading to a diagnosis of retroperitoneal dedifferentiated liposarcoma.

The diagnostic journey involved chest CT scans, pleural punctures, and biopsies. The patient's unique case posed challenges, with initial treatments providing only temporary relief. The situation escalated, prompting further examinations and a switch to anlotinib treatment. 

Three days after discharge, the patient faced a recurrence of symptoms, leading to a critical discovery — a severe G6PD deficiency. This revelation unfolded through whole exome sequencing, shedding light on a genetic predisposition that played a pivotal role in the patient's adverse reactions. 

The authors hypothesized that the patient, having received the second vaccination, experienced cytokine storm triggered by an immune response due to G6PD deficiency. This resulted in the development of a severe systemic inflammatory response syndrome, distinct from the type I allergy (allergic reaction) observed after the initial vaccination. Currently, there are documented cases of acute hemolysis following vaccination in individuals with G6PD deficiency and thalassemia, attributed to an oxidative stress reaction triggered by the immunization process.

G6PD (Glucose-6-Phosphate Dehydrogenase) deficiency is associated with a spectrum of health effects, including anemia, hemolysis, inflammatory infections, and cardiovascular disease. However, this deficiency demonstrates dual effects when it comes to anti-tumor treatment. An aberrant upswing in G6PD activity has been observed to enhance the proliferation of tumor cells, instigate tumor angiogenesis, and fortify resistance against radiotherapy and cytotoxic drugs. 


REFERENCE

Xu W, Nian W. A rare adverse effects of COVID-19 vaccine in a patient with a latent tumor: A case report and literature review. Front Oncol. 2023 Dec 5;13:1269735. doi: 10.3389/fonc.2023.1269735. PMID: 38115902; PMCID: PMC10728639. pdf

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

A New Onset of Ulcerative Colitis post-2nd-breakthrough-COVID-19

Image
A 21-year-old non-smoking Caucasian male with a history of acute pancreatitis but no other medical issues or family history had two doses of the BNT162b2 mRNA COVID-19 vaccine.  Four months after the second dose he had his first episode of COVID-19. Although not hypoxic, he felt pretty unwell for a week, with a severe cough, fever, generalized body ache, headache, and loss of taste. He received the third dose of the vaccine two months after recovering from COVID. Nine months after the third dose, he had the second episode of COVID-19, during which he was mildly unwell for three days, recovered, and did not require any anti-viral medication or antibiotics. One week post the second episode of COVID-19, he developed diarrhea and abdominal pain. It then progressed to bloody diarrhea. Ulcerative colitis was diagnosed based on his clinical symptoms, biopsy changes, and the exclusion of other causes.  There are ten published case reports about the newly diagnosed ulcerative colitis ...
Read more

COVID in May

Image
Concerns about a potential resurgence of COVID-19 are mounting as summer 2024 approaches.  This is driven by several indicators, including social media posts, healthcare data, and wastewater surveillance across different regions. Our study findings corroborate this trend.  While many forecasters anticipate a surge, others expect a gradual increase through the end of May, and then a decline again around early June. Reports from social media suggest emerging clusters of COVID-19 in Texas, several Canadian provinces, the UK, and on cruises in northern regions such as a Norwegian cruise to Alaska.  Data from Alberta's Respiratory virus dashboard   (total weekly laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 cases) and wastewater surveillance in Calgary indicate an uptick in COVID-19 cases starting April 2024. The most recent statistics from Alberta Health reveal a significant increase in hospitalizations due to COVID-19, with 114 individuals currently hospitalized—an incr...
Read more

Crossroads of Pathogens: The Evolving Threat of Avian Influenza

Image
Influenza viruses are infamous for their ability to mutate and adapt, making the study of their evolution critical for public health. Some like H5N1 are severe, others as H7N3 are typically present with mild symptoms. The classification of influenza subtypes relies on the hemagglutinin (H) and neuraminidase (N) proteins on the viral surface, with 18 H subtypes and 11 N subtypes combining into diverse influenza strains. While most pose limited risks to humans, certain mutations can significantly alter their behavior. Case 1: Mutated H5N1 in a Vancouver Teen Canadian teen, who lives in the Fraser Health Region of British Columbia, first developed symptoms on Nov. 2 and was tested on Nov. 8, with a positive result confirmed on Nov. 9.  It was the first positive case of bird flu detected in a human in Canada. The teenager, hospitalized with a mutated H5N1 strain, was unconscious for over two weeks. The teen has made progress and is expected to recover. Alarmingly, this strain exhibits ...
Read more