Background: To report a case of acute exacerbation of ocular graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) and anterior uveitis following coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination.
Case presentation: A 60-year-old man with primary myelofibrosis and GVHD after receiving allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT), developed acute exacerbation of ocular GVHD and anterior uveitis after receiving first dose of COVID-19 vaccine. Erythema of the eyelids, conjunctival hyperemia, superficial punctate keratopathy, and prominent anterior chamber inflammation in both eyes were revealed. Ocular GVHD and anterior uveitis were managed with mainly topical corticosteroid, antibiotics, and systemic corticosteroid, but were difficult to control. Successful treatment was achieved with intravitreal injection of dexamethasone 6 months later.
Conclusions: Clinicians should beware of the rare refractory anterior uveitis and acute exacerbation of ocular GVHD after COVID-19 vaccination in patients undergoing HSCT. Early diagnosis and aggressive treatment should be considered to reduce the likelihood of severe complications.
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