1. Vaccine-induced massive pulmonary embolism and thrombocytopenia following a single dose of Janssen Ad26.COV2.S vaccination
- Author
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Rosa Curcio, Vito Gandolfo, Riccardo Alcidi, Luciano Giacomino, Tommaso Campanella, Genni Casarola, Rachele Rossi, Lorenzo Chiatti, Marco D'Abbondanza, Rita Commissari, Paolo Gresele, Giacomo Pucci, and Gaetano Vaudo
- Subjects
COVID-19 ,Janssen ,AD26.COV2.S ,Vaccination ,Vaccine-induced thrombosis with thrombocytopenia ,Pulmonary embolism ,Infectious and parasitic diseases ,RC109-216 - Abstract
ABSTRACT: Vaccine-induced immune thrombotic thrombocytopenia (VITT) has emerged as a rare side effect of adenoviral vector-based vaccines against coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), and is most frequently reported after use of the Vaxzevria (AstraZeneca) vaccine. This report describes a case of severe thrombocytopenia associated with massive pulmonary embolism and portal vein thrombosis occurring 13 days after the administration of the single-dose adenoviral vector-based vaccine Ad26.COV2.S (Janssen Vaccines). Based on early clinical suspicion, the patient quickly received treatment with corticosteroids and intravenous immunoglobulin, followed by a rapid increase in platelet count that allowed timely administration of full-dose anticoagulation. Treatment with intravenous immunoglobulin, however, could mask the ability of anti-platelet factor 4-heparin antibodies to bind and activate platelets in the presence of heparin, leading to false-negative results on the immunoassay functional test. Therefore, if VITT is suspected, blood samples for diagnostic confirmation should be collected prior to any treatment to improve diagnostic performance.
- Published
- 2022
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