Rhabdomyolysis following Oxford/AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccination; two case reports from Iran

Abstract

Defined as the destruction of the skeletal muscle wall and the release of cellular contents into the bloodstream, rhabdomyolysis has been reported as a complication for some forms of vaccines. On the other hand, the COVID-19 pandemic has led to the extensive production and use of several vaccines against SARS-CoV-2, meanwhile, the side effects of these vaccines are gradually being reported. Up to now, few cases of rhabdomyolysis due to COVID-19 vaccination have been reported in the studies. The present study intended to report two cases of rhabdomyolysis due to vaccination with Oxford/AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccines. The patients were two men aged 70 and 75 years old who presented to a healthcare facility with weakness, myalgia, nausea, and vomiting for about ten days after receiving their first dose of the Oxford/AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine. Patients had elevated levels of creatine phosphokinase (CPK), which were 5540 IU/L and 18760 IU/L in patients, respectively.