New-Onset Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Beginning as Class V Lupus Nephritis After COVID-19 Vaccination

A 23-year-old woman with no prior medical history developed nephrotic syndrome and was diagnosed with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) with class V lupus nephritis (LN) one week after receiving the first dose of the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine. Her symptoms included eyelid edema, foamy urine, anasarca, and hair loss. Laboratory tests showed lymphopenia, proteinuria, and low complement levels, while a kidney biopsy confirmed secondary membranous nephropathy. Treatment with mycophenolate mofetil, glucocorticoids, hydroxychloroquine, and diuretics led to improvement. The case suggested a possible link between COVID-19 vaccination and SLE emergence in predisposed individuals, highlighting the need for close monitoring and registration of post-vaccination events in patients with SLE.