The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine (대한한방내과학회지)

The Society of Internal Korean Medicine (대한한방내과학회)
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Safety of Korean Medicine Treatment in Patients Vaccinated with the AstraZeneca COVID-19 Vaccine (ChAdOx1 nCoV-19/AZD1222): A Case Series

아스트라제네카 코로나19 백신(ChAdOx1 nCoV-19/AZD1222)을 접종한 환자에서 한방 치료의 안전성 : 사례군 연구

  • Kang, Sung-woo (Division of Allergy, Immune & Respiratory System, Dept. of Internal Medicine, Graduate School, Kyung Hee University) ;
  • Hong, Sung-eun (Division of Allergy, Immune & Respiratory System, Dept. of Internal Medicine, Graduate School, Kyung Hee University) ;
  • Park, Ji-won (Division of Allergy, Immune & Respiratory System, Dept. of Internal Medicine, Graduate School, Kyung Hee University) ;
  • Kwon, Seungwon (Dept. of Cardiology and Neurology, College of Korean Medicine, Kyung Hee University) ;
  • Yoon, Sang-hyub (Dept. of Gastroenterology, College of Korean Medicine, Kyung Hee University) ;
  • Kim, Kwan-il (Division of Allergy, Immune & Respiratory System, Dept. of Internal Medicine, Graduate School, Kyung Hee University) ;
  • Lee, Beom-joon (Division of Allergy, Immune & Respiratory System, Dept. of Internal Medicine, Graduate School, Kyung Hee University) ;
  • Jung, Hee-jae (Division of Allergy, Immune & Respiratory System, Dept. of Internal Medicine, Graduate School, Kyung Hee University)
  • 강성우 (경희대학교 대학원 임상한의학과 폐계내과학교실) ;
  • 홍성은 (경희대학교 대학원 임상한의학과 폐계내과학교실) ;
  • 박지원 (경희대학교 대학원 임상한의학과 폐계내과학교실) ;
  • 권승원 (경희대학교 한의과대학 순환신경내과학교실) ;
  • 윤상협 (경희대학교 한의과대학 비계내과학교실) ;
  • 김관일 (경희대학교 대학원 임상한의학과 폐계내과학교실) ;
  • 이범준 (경희대학교 대학원 임상한의학과 폐계내과학교실) ;
  • 정희재 (경희대학교 대학원 임상한의학과 폐계내과학교실)
  • Received : 2021.08.25
  • Accepted : 2021.09.23
  • Published : 2021.09.30
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Abstract

Objectives: The purpose of this study is to examine the safety of Korean medicine treatment in patients vaccinated with the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine (ChAdOx1 nCoV-19/AZD1222). Methods: We investigated patients at Kyung Hee University Korean Medicine Hospital who were vaccinated with the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine between June 1, 2021 and June 30, 2021. The safety of Korean medicine treatment was evaluated by examining adverse events that occurred within seven days of vaccination, including liver function and kidney function testing, assessment of the severity of adverse events, and examination of causality to vaccines and Korean medicine treatment. Results: Eleven patients vaccinated with the first dose of the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine were included. A total of 19 adverse events were reported: 15 systemic adverse events, three local adverse events, and one alanine aminotransferase increase. The most commonly reported systemic adverse events were fatigue (4 cases, 36.4%), headache (4 cases, 36.4%), and myalgia (4 cases, 36.4%). All adverse events were rated below moderate (grade 2) in severity. Systemic and local adverse events were evaluated as definitely related to vaccination and unlikely to be related to Korean medicine treatment, while alanine aminotransferase increase was evaluated as unlikely to be related to either the vaccine or Korean medicine treatment. Aspartate transaminase, Blood urea nitrogen, and creatinine were measured within the reference range after vaccination. Conclusion: Our results suggest that the severity and frequency of adverse events in patients vaccinated with the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine did not increase after Korean medicine treatment.

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References

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