Acute fulminant myocarditis following influenza vaccination requiring extracorporeal membrane oxygenation

Abstract

The inactivated influenza vaccination is generally safe with mostly mild side effects. We report a rare but fatal adverse event following influenza vaccination. A previously healthy 27-year-old woman who received the influenza vaccination 3 days before presenting to the emergency department had rapidly aggravating dyspnea and mental deterioration. She was diagnosed as having acute fulminant myocarditis with refractory cardiogenic shock, which was successfully managed with veno-arterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation. The cardiac function of the patient recovered in 3 weeks.