COVID-19 Vaccine-Induced Pneumonitis, Myositis and Myopericarditis.

A 63-year-old male, with no significant past history and not on any regular medications previously, had mild respiratory symptoms post the first dose of the AstraZeneca (Cambridge, England) coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccine, which were self-limiting. Following the second dose of the vaccine, he arrived at the emergency department (ED) with worsening shortness of breath. During this admission, he was assumed to have interstitial lung disease due to a possible past history of occupational exposure. He responded to a short-term course of corticosteroids and antibiotics and was discharged home. However, he reported again to the emergency department three weeks later, with persistent dyspnoea along with myalgia. His blood tests and imaging from scans suggested myositis, pneumonitis, and myopericarditis. Since he recently had the COVID-19 AstraZeneca vaccine, it was postulated as the most likely cause of the symptoms. He was managed with intravenous (IV) corticosteroids followed by oral corticosteroids with symptom resolution.

Docetaxel-induced interstitial lung disease among patients with breast cancer: a case series and review of literature.

Taxane-induced pneumotoxicity is rare. However, 1-5% of patients taking docetaxel may develop severe pneumotoxicity. This has been limited to case reports in the literature. We report seven breast cancer patients who developed docetaxel-induced diffuse parenchymal lung disease (DPLD) of an organizing pneumonia pattern on high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT). The patients presented with progressive breathlessness within four weeks of the final dose. All had an organizing pneumonia pattern on their HRCTs, without other evidence of infection. Restrictive lung disease with low carbon monoxide diffusing capacity (DLCO) was noted, with desaturation on a 6-min walk test (6MWT). They were started on prednisolone. Repeated HRCT after four to eight weeks from the commencement of steroid treatment showed marked improvement. The clinical and functional improvement were also significant. One patient succumbed to the illness as a result of severe lung involvement. Docetaxel-induced DPLD is a fatal adverse effect, which can be managed by the cessation of the drug and starting on steroids in adequate doses.