A Histologic Timeline of a Delayed Hypersensitivity Reaction after the COVID-19 Pfizer Booster

Skinmed. 2022 Oct 31;20(5):387-389. eCollection 2022.

Abstract

A 54-year-old man presented with worsening bilateral rashes on legs and arms 7 days after receiving his BNT162b2 mRNA COVID-19 (Pfizer) vaccine booster. He developed burning on his palms about 5 days after receiving the booster. On day 6, he observed significant edema on his fingers and palms in addition to thin erythematous papules on his forearms. On day 7, he developed edema on his bilateral dorsal feet, and thin erythematous plaques on his shins. He stated that the rashes were pruritic. He had no rashes following the first two doses of the Pfizer vaccine. He denied having any history of skin disease, autoimmune disease, or allergies. Physical examination revealed multiple thin erythematous papules coalescing into thin plaques on his flexor forearms, and thin erythematous plaques on his dorsal feet (Figure 1). Three 4-mm punch biopsies were performed on his left flexor forearm. The biopsies were carried out at papules present for different lengths of time. Papules at biopsy sites "A," "B," and "C" were present for approximately 24-36 hours, 12-18 hours, and 3-6 hours, respectively (Figure 1).

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • BNT162 Vaccine
  • COVID-19* / complications
  • Erythema / etiology
  • Erythema / pathology
  • Humans
  • Hypersensitivity, Delayed* / diagnosis
  • Hypersensitivity, Delayed* / etiology
  • Hypersensitivity, Delayed* / pathology
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Skin / pathology

Substances

  • BNT162 Vaccine