The clinical course of patients with previous acute and recurrent pericarditis receiving the BNT162b2 vaccine

BACKGROUND: Vaccines against SARS-COV2 have been crucial in efforts against COVID19, yet there have been reports of pericarditis following vaccination with mRNA-based vaccines. METHODS: We questioned consecutive patients with a history of acute pericarditis (AP) evaluated in the pericardial disease clinic during 3–11/2020 in a single tertiary center. Patients with significant myocardial involvement or pericarditis secondary to another systemic disease were excluded. RESULTS: We included 64 patients in the final analysis. Mean age was 53.1 (±18), and 26 (41%) were female. At least 1 recurrence of AP was documented in 47 (73%) cases, 32 (50%) had ≥ 3 recurrences prior to vaccination. AP was considered to be idiopathic\viral in 45 (70%) cases, 20 (31%) cases were post-injury. All patients received at least 2 doses of the vaccine, and 48 patients (75%) received a 3rd dose. Two cases of breakthrough COVID19 infections were documented. Overall, 12 patients (19%) reported any adverse events. Of which, 2 had recurrent pericarditis. There was a trend for a younger age in those patients who had adverse events (median age 45 [IQR 36–61] vs. 60 [38–71], p = 0.08). no other significant difference was seen. CONCLUSION: In patients with a history of acute\recurrent pericarditis, the use of BNT162b2 was mostly uneventful, but some mild disease recurrences did occur.