Safety of inactivated COVID-19 vaccine in tuberous sclerosis complex patients with epilepsy treated with rapamycin

Abstract

Purpose: To assess the safety of inactivated coronavirus 2019 disease (COVID-19) vaccine in tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC) patients with epilepsy.

Methods: All patients with epilepsy were selected from Efficacy and Safety of Sirolimus in Pediatric Patients with Tuberous Sclerosis (ESOSPIT) project and younger than 17 years old. The patients were treated with mTOR inhibitors (rapamycin). A total of 44 patients who completed the two-dose inactivated COVID-19 vaccine between July 7, 2021, and January 1, 2022, were enrolled.

Results: The median age of seizure onset was 23 months. About two-thirds of patients have focal seizures. Thirty-three patients use antiseizure medications. The mean duration of rapamycin treatment was 55.59 ± 18.42 months. Adverse reactions within 28 days after injection occurred in 11 patients (25%), all were under 12 years old. Injection site pain was the most reported event (20.45%), which was mild in severity and improved within one day. All patients had no seizure-related changes after vaccination.

Conclusion: This study shows that the inactivated COVID-19 vaccine was well tolerated and safe in TSC patients with epilepsy, as well as for those treated with mTOR inhibitors.

Keywords: COVID-19 vaccine; Epilepsy; Rapamycin; Tuberous sclerosis complex; mTOR inhibitor.