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. 2022 Sep;26(9):909-916.
doi: 10.1007/s10157-022-02231-y. Epub 2022 May 15.

New-onset and relapse of nephrotic syndrome following COVID-19 vaccination: a questionnaire survey in Japan

Naoki Nakagawa  1   2 , Shoichi Maruyama  3   4 , Naoki Kashihara  3   5 , Ichiei Narita  3   6 , Yoshitaka Isaka  3   7
Affiliations

New-onset and relapse of nephrotic syndrome following COVID-19 vaccination: a questionnaire survey in Japan

Naoki Nakagawa et al. Clin Exp Nephrol. 2022 Sep.

Abstract

Background: Recent clinical reports indicate a correlation between new-onset and relapse of nephrotic syndrome (NS) following coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination in patients with glomerular diseases. However, there are no reports of a nationwide survey on NS following COVID-19 vaccination in Japan.

Methods: We conducted a web-based survey of council members of the Japanese Society of Nephrology (581 members, 382 facilities) to elucidate the relationship between COVID-19 vaccination and new-onset and relapse of NS.

Results: Following COVID-19 vaccination, 27 patients (male: 15, 55.6%) with new-onset (n = 6) and relapse (n = 21) of NS were reported. Of them, 12 (44.4%) patients were diagnosed with minimal change disease at the occurrence of NS. Five patients developed a slight increase in serum creatinine levels; however, none progressed to severe renal dysfunction.

Conclusion: Our findings clarify the clinical features of new-onset and relapse of NS following COVID-19 vaccination. Although there was no obvious progression to severe renal dysfunction, clinicians and pathologists should be aware that NS is a potential adverse effect of the vaccines.

Keywords: Coronavirus 2019; Minimal change disease; Nephrotic syndrome; SARS-CoV-2 vaccination; mRNA vaccination.

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Conflict of interest statement

All the authors declare no competing interests.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Disease categories of new-onset and relapse of nephrotic syndrome following coronavirus (COVID)-19 vaccination
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Duration between coronavirus (COVID)-19 vaccination and the incidence of new-onset and relapse of nephrotic syndrome
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
Duration of proteinuria following coronavirus (COVID)-19 vaccination
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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