Benign fasciculation syndrome and migraine aura without headache as possible adverse events after BNT162b2 mRNA vaccination: a web-based survey

Scientific paper - Preliminary note / Short communication

• Author: Grgur Salai
• Author: Đivo Ljubičić
• Author: Ruđer Novak
• Author: Lovorka Grgurević
• Author's institution: University of Zagreb; School of Medicine; (Department of Anatomy and Clinical Anatomy)
• Scientific / art field, discipline and subdiscipline: BIOMEDICINE AND HEALTHCARE; Basic Medical Sciences; Anatomy

Abstract (english)

Aim: To determine the characteristics of patients who experienced muscle fasciculations and migraine auras without headache after BNT162b2 immunization.

Methods: In January 2022, we published a case report that described a 48-year-old female patient who experienced muscle twitching and migraine auras without headache following BNT162b2 immunization. A self-administered online survey was sent to people who had written to us and complained of similar symptoms described in the case report (N=20).

Results: The survey was completed by 11 participants, of whom 10 reported muscle twitching following BNT162b2 immunization lasting a median of 14 (4-36.5) days. Five of these participants (50%) reported migraine auras without headache. Participants further reported on self-identified triggers that altered the intensity of their symptoms, such as anxiety or caffeine. Fifty percent of participants who got an acute SARS-CoV-2 infection (3/6) experienced increased muscle symptom intensity during the acute phase of the disease.

Conclusion: To the best of our knowledge, our survey is the first to summarize patients' experiences of these phenomena occurring after BNT162b2 immunization. It is important to note that no causal relationship between vaccination and these phenomena can be inferred.

• Keywords (english): BNT162 Vaccine / adverse effects; COVID-19 / prevention & control; Epilepsy; Fasciculation / chemically induced; Headache; Humans; Internet; Migraine with Aura / chemically induced; Migraine with Aura / diagnosis; Vaccination / adverse effects
• Language: english
• Publication type: Scientific paper - Preliminary note / Short communication
• Publication status: Published
• Peer review: Peer review
• Publication version: Published version
• Journal title: Croatian Medical Journal
• Numbering: vol. 64, no. 6, pp. 430-435
• p-ISSN: 0353-9504
• e-ISSN: 1332-8166
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.3325/cmj.2023.64.430
• URN:NBN: urn:nbn:hr:105:347167
• Publication: 2023-12
• Document URL: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10797237/
• Type of resource: Text
• Access conditions: Open access
• Created on: 2024-04-09 08:40:36