Rationale:
While severe complications are generally uncommon with novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccine, there has been a steady increase in the number of patients presenting with nephrotic syndrome and acute kidney injury after the administration of COVID-19 vaccine. Physicians should be made aware of minimal change disease as a potential complication associated with COVID-19 vaccine.
Presenting concerns:
A 60-year-old male without significant past medical history presented with new onset of nephrotic syndrome approximately 10 days after his first dose of Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine. Laboratory findings showed hypoalbuminemia (20 g/L), elevated urine albumin/creatinine ratio (668 mg/mmol), and elevated creatinine of 116 µmol/L from a baseline of 79 µmol/L.
Diagnosis:
A diagnostic kidney biopsy was performed 6 weeks after the onset of the edema and approximately 8 weeks after his first dose of Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine. The kidney biopsy findings were consistent with minimal change disease with focal acute tubular injury.
Interventions:
The patient was treated conservatively with ramipril 10 mg and furosemide 80 mg daily 5 weeks after the onset of swelling. Prednisone 1 mg/kg was initiated immediately when the kidney biopsy result became available (approximately 6 weeks after the onset of edema).
Outcomes:
The patient remitted with rapid weight loss starting 2 weeks post prednisone initiation.
Novel findings:
De novo minimal change disease with acute tubular injury is a kidney manifestation following the administration of Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine. Minimal change disease is potentially a rare complication of Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine.