Embolic and thrombotic events after COVID-19 vaccination
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COVID-19 pandemic |
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Post-vaccination embolic and thrombotic events, termed vaccine-induced immune thrombotic thrombocytopenia (VITT),
In April 2021, AstraZeneca and the European Medicines Agency (EMA) updated their information for healthcare professionals about AZD1222, saying it is "considered plausible" that there is a causal relationship between the vaccination and the occurrence of thrombosis in combination with thrombocytopenia and that, "although such adverse reactions are very rare, they exceeded what would be expected in the general population".[12][15][16][17] AstraZeneca initially denied the link, saying "we do not accept that TTS is caused by the vaccine at a generic level". However, in legal documents filed in February 2024, AstraZeneca finally admitted its vaccine 'can, in very rare cases, cause TTS'.[18][19]
Signs and symptoms
The thrombosis events associated with the COVID‑19 vaccine may occur 4–28 days after its administration and mainly affects women under 55.[6][2][20] Several relatively unusual types of thrombosis were specifically reported to be occurring in those with the reaction: cerebral venous sinus thrombosis and thrombosis of the splanchnic veins.[21][22] Cerebral venous sinus thrombosis may cause severe headache, stroke-like symptoms (weakness of a limb and/or facial muscles), seizures and coma.[23] Splanchnic vein thrombosis may cause abdominal pain, accumulation of fluid in the abdominal cavity, and gastrointestinal bleeding.[24][25]
Other forms of thrombosis, such as the more common pulmonary embolism, may also occur. Arterial thrombosis has also been reported.[26] The low platelet count may manifest as petechia (tiny blood spots under the skin) beyond the site of the injection.[21]
Disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC), diffuse formation of blood clots throughout the blood vessels of the body, has been reported as part of the syndrome.[27] DIC may cause a range of symptoms, including abnormal bleeding, breathlessness, chest pain, neurological symptoms, low blood pressure, or swelling.[28]
COVID‑19 vaccines have some adverse effects that are listed as common in the two or three days following vaccination which are usually mild and temporary.[21]
Causes
The rare simultaneous occurrence of thrombocytopenia (low blood platelets) with blood clots after vaccination raised the original concern about this condition.[citation needed] In many cases where acute thrombosis and thrombocytopenia have been found together after COVID‑19 vaccination, an antibody against platelet factor 4 has been identified.[1] This phenomenon is mostly encountered in some people who have been administered heparin, but none of the reported cases had received heparin.[1] More rarely, this phenomenon had previously been described as an autoimmune phenomenon in people who had not been exposed to heparin.[29] One striking feature of thrombocytopenia in the presence of anti-PF4 antibodies is the propensity of some to develop thrombosis, a phenomenon called heparin-induced thrombocytopenia if heparin is involved.[30]
Thrombocytopenia is generally a common symptom after or during many viral infections,[31] and it "has been consistently reported" after intravenous administration of adenoviral gene transfer vectors,[32] although its mechanisms are not yet clear.
There is no confirmed causal link to the syndrome and any COVID‑19 vaccination,[
On 7 April 2021, the EMA noted one "plausible explanation" for the combination of blood clots and low blood platelets is "an immune response, leading to a condition similar to one seen sometimes in people treated with heparin", that is
Diagnosis
In the United Kingdom, professional societies led by the
Management
Guidelines from professional societies recommend treatment with alternative anticoagulants instead of heparin, as there is a possibility that it may aggravate the phenomenon.[34][35] Alternative options as the directly acting oral anticoagulants (DOACs), argatroban, fondaparinux or danaparoid depending on the circumstances.[34] Platelet transfusion is discouraged, as this too may aggravate thrombosis.[34] UK guidelines by the British Society for Haematology recommend the administration of intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) to reduce levels of the pathogenic antibody.[34] Low fibrinogen levels may require correction with fibrinogen concentrate or cryoprecipitate.[34]
Epidemiology
![]() | This section needs to be updated. The reason given is: Needs to ensure latest data is reflected. Marked as inaccurate because the information presented was not originally the basis of an "Epidemiology" section, but discussion of age and possibly gender on the topic are relevant as vaccinations by countries may not have been spread evenly throughout ages and genders.(April 2021) |
The
Observations in Germany of these rare events seemed to relate mostly women aged under 55. However, because Germany had previously restricted AZD1222 to under 65s, the population vaccinated there with AZD1222 is comparatively younger, and consequently contained a higher proportion of women taking the
The UK Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) reporting regards AZD1222 to 3 November 2021, recording 73 deaths out of 425 cases (17%) in the context of 24.9 million first doses administered.[38][39]
Regulatory status
According to the European Medicines Agency (EMA), as of 28 March 2021[update], the reported number of cases of embolic and thrombotic events after vaccination is lower than the rate of such events in the general population overall. However, the specific syndrome - of embolic and thrombotic events in combination with low levels of blood platelets - presenting in post-vaccination cases raised the possibility of an association between the vaccine and the relatively rare syndrome. The EMA also said that there is no proof that these events are caused by the vaccines, but that the possibility could not yet be ruled out completely.[12] Accordingly, the EMA advised that people who received the vaccine and experienced symptoms suggestive of thrombosis, including shortness of breath, blurred vision and severe or persistent headache, should seek medical attention.[12]
In a press briefing on 7 April 2021,
The UK Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) held a news conference on 7 April 2021, and while there is no proof that the AZD1222 vaccination caused the rare blood clots, they indicated the possibility of a link is getting stronger.[45] The UK is to offer under 30s alternative vaccines.[45] The reasoning is because in the 20-29 age range the benefits to individual of vaccination were less as their likelihood of harm from COVID‑19 is less and closer to the potential risk of harm from the vaccine (at a medium exposure risk with COVID‑19 infection cases running at a rate of 60 per 100,000).[46][45] For higher age groups the benefit to risk ratio increased.[45]
Also on 7 April 2021, an interim statement from the WHO said its advisory body, GACVS, found any "causal relationship" between the rare blood clot cases and AZD1222 to be "plausible but is not confirmed".[47]
On 20 April 2021, the safety committee of the EMA (PRAC) found a "possible link to very rare cases of unusual blood clots with low blood platelets" for the Johnson & Johnson Janssen vaccine; and required that these rare events, similar to those noted for AZD1222, should be listed as a very rare side effect. The EMA states the overall risk-benefit for the Janssen vaccine remains positive.[48]
On 16 December 2021, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommended the Moderna and Pfizer-BioNTech vaccines should be preferred over the Janssen vaccine, following growing concerns about rare blood clots.[49][50] Janssen should still be offered to people who specifically request it.[51]
History
Organizations
Global vaccine safety comes under the remit of the
- European Medicines Agency (EMA), the regional regulatory authority for the EU.
- Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), the medical authority for the United Kingdom.
- WHO collaborating centre.[52]
Syndrome identification
A number of
On 11 March 2021, the EMA issued a statement noting Denmark had suspended AZD1222 vaccinations due to a vaccinated patient dying with blood clots. While noting there had been reports of other vaccinated people having blood clots and that its safety committee is already reviewing such cases, the number of thromboembolic events in vaccinated people is no higher than in the general population.[53]
The World Health Organization (WHO) Global Advisory Committee on Vaccine Safety on 19 March 2021, issued a statement relating to safety signals related to AZD1222 relating to events of thromboembolism and thrombocytopenia following review of available data and conclusions included that AZD1222 "a positive benefit-risk profile, with tremendous potential to prevent infections and reduce deaths across the world".[54]
In its safety update of 29 March 2021, the EMA indicated it had initiated investigations into the very rare cases of specific embolic and thrombotic events in combination with
On 7 April 2021, the EMA determined that unusual blood clots with low blood platelets should be listed as very rare side effects of AZD1222, with WHO and UK EHRA issuing generally similar statements on the same day. None of the agencies found a confirmed causal link between the vaccine and these incidents at the time, but were listing them out of an abundance of caution.[21][45][47]
A highlight of minutes of the EMA's Pharmacovigilance Risk Assessment Committee (PRAC) concluding 9 April 2021, indicating they also were investigating four cases of unusual blood clots with low blood platelets, including one death, amongst people who had taken the
Vaccination campaign responses
Early reports of the events of concern seemed to indicate the presentation rate for the specific blood clots of concern might be higher for women of younger ages,
The WHO has continued to stress the administration of vaccines is based on
Regional and national responses
![]() | This section needs expansion. You can help by adding to it. (April 2021) |
The advisory panel for the government of
In response to the concerns over the adverse effects relating to rare blood clotting types Germany has suspended use of the AZD1222 in those under 60 years of age; in contrast to a period previously having suspended use of AZD1222 to over–65s due to limited data of the efficacy of the vaccine to this age group at that time.[57]
Following a few days of suspended use of AZD1222, the Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport of the Netherlands decided to continue administering the vaccine only to persons above the age of 60.[58]
On 8 April 2021, the
Studies
A study convened by a group of British hematologists on 19 March 2021, just two days after the acknowledgement of the condition, published its finding in
References
Notes
Footnotes
- ^ PMID 33835769.
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Although initially several terms were used to describe the syndrome … the term that has gained widespread use is vaccine-induced immune thrombotic thrombocytopenia (VITT). Thrombosis with thrombocytopenia syndrome has also been used, but it is a more general term that can be caused by other conditions
- ^ S2CID 239574011.
We believe the name "VITT" works well … the term clearly denotes the key features of the disorder … provides a useful mnemonic for disease recognition in the usual sequence of events … need not mandate that thrombosis be present … "TTS" … has limited clinical utility, since many conditions … present with the duad of thrombosis and thrombocytopenia
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- ^ "AstraZeneca COVID-19 Vaccine (AZD1222)" (PDF). ACIP COVID-19 Emergency Meeting. AstraZeneca. 27 January 2021. Archived (PDF) from the original on 27 January 2021. Retrieved 16 April 2021.
- ^ "Vaxzevria (previously COVID-19 Vaccine AstraZeneca) EPAR". European Medicines Agency (EMA). 25 January 2021. Archived from the original on 21 April 2021. Retrieved 16 April 2021.
The name of the vaccine was changed to Vaxzevria on 25 March 2021.
Vaxzevria (COVID‑19 Vaccine (ChAdOx1-S recombinant) EMA/182334/2021 Archived 15 April 2021 at the Wayback Machine Text was copied from this source which is copyright European Medicines Agency. Reproduction is authorized provided the source is acknowledged. - ^ "ChAdOx1 nCoV- 19 Corona Virus Vaccine (Recombinant) - Covishield". Serum Institute Of India. Archived from the original on 19 April 2021. Retrieved 16 April 2021.
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- ^ Medical Director of AstraZeneca AB (13 April 2021). "Direct healthcare professional communication (DHPC): Vaxzevria (previously COVID-19 Vaccine AstraZeneca): link between the vaccine and the occurrence of thrombosis in combination with thrombocytopenia" (PDF). European Medicines Agency (EMA). Archived (PDF) from the original on 18 July 2022. Retrieved 13 April 2021.
- ^ "Research and analysis — Coronavirus vaccine - weekly summary of Yellow Card reporting". Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA). 1 April 2021. Archived from the original on 20 May 2021. Retrieved 3 April 2020.
- ^ EMA (7 April 2021). EMA press conference 7th April — Conclusion of the assessment of the Pharmacovigilance Risk Assessment Committee (PRAC) of COVID-19 Vaccine AstraZeneca and thromboembolic events. European Medicines Agency (EMA). Archived from the original on 7 April 2021. Retrieved 7 April 2021 – via Youtube.
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- ^ a b c d e "AstraZeneca's COVID-19 vaccine: EMA finds possible link to very rare cases of unusual blood clots with low blood platelets" (Press release). European Medicines Agency (EMA). 7 April 2021. Archived from the original on 20 May 2021. Retrieved 9 April 2021.
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- ^ "Disseminated Intravascular Coagulation | NHLBI, NIH". National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute. 8 October 2019. Archived from the original on 17 April 2021. Retrieved 15 April 2021.
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- ^ a b c d e Expert Haematology Panel (7 April 2021). "Guidance produced from the Expert Haematology Panel (EHP) focussed on Covid-19 Vaccine induced Thrombosis and Thrombocytopenia (VITT)" (PDF). British Society for Haematology. Archived (PDF) from the original on 16 April 2021. Retrieved 15 April 2021.
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- ^ a b c Gallagher J (2 April 2021). "AstraZeneca: Is there a blood clot risk?". BBC News Online. Archived from the original on 6 May 2021. Retrieved 3 April 2021.
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Up to and including 31 March 2021, the MHRA had received 79 UK reports of blood clotting cases alongside low levels of platelets following the use of the COVID-19 Vaccine AstraZeneca:" [occurring in] "in 51 women and 28 men, aged from 18 to 79 years.
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- ^ "COVID-19 Vaccine Janssen: EMA finds possible link to very rare cases of unusual blood clots with low blood platelets". European Medicines Agency (EMA) (Press release). 20 April 2021. Archived from the original on 6 June 2021. Retrieved 28 April 2021.
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Further reading
- Aleem A, Nadeem AJ (July 2021). "Coronavirus (COVID-19) Vaccine-Induced Immune Thrombotic Thrombocytopenia (VITT)". StatPearls. PMID 34033367.
- Arepally GM, Ortel TL (July 2021). "Vaccine-induced immune thrombotic thrombocytopenia: what we know and do not know". Blood. 138 (4): 293–8. PMID 34323940.
- Iba T, Levy JH, Warkentin TE (January 2022). "Recognizing Vaccine-Induced Immune Thrombotic Thrombocytopenia". Crit Care Med. 50 (1): e80 – e86. PMID 34259661.
- Schultz NH, Sørvoll IH, Michelsen AE, Munthe LA, Lund-Johansen F, Ahlen MT, et al. (June 2021). "Thrombosis and Thrombocytopenia after ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 Vaccination". N Engl J Med. 384 (22): 2124–30. PMID 33835768.
- Scully M, Singh D, Lown R, Poles A, Solomon T, Levi M, et al. (June 2021). "Pathologic Antibodies to Platelet Factor 4 after ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 Vaccination". N Engl J Med. 384 (23): 2202–11. PMID 33861525.