Journal
LANCET HAEMATOLOGY
Volume 9, Issue 1, Pages E73-E80Publisher
ELSEVIER SCI LTD
DOI: 10.1016/S2352-3026(21)00306-9
Keywords
-
Categories
Ask authors/readers for more resources
In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, vaccines for SARS-CoV-2 were rapidly developed and introduced, leading to a major impact on the evolution of the disease. However, reports of rare side-effects such as vaccine-induced immune thrombotic thrombocytopenia (VITT) have emerged, requiring prompt testing and treatment with intravenous immunoglobulin and non-heparin anticoagulants.
In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, vaccines for SARS-CoV-2 were developed, tested, and introduced at a remarkable speed. Although the vaccine introduction had a major impact on the evolution of COVID-19, some potential rare side-effects of the vaccines were observed. Within a short period, three scientific groups from Norway, Germany, and the UK reported cerebral venous sinus thrombosis with thrombocytopenia and anti-platelet factor 4 (anti-PF4) antibodies in individuals following AstraZeneca-Oxford vaccination and named this new syndrome vaccine-induced immune thrombotic thrombocytopenia (VITT). This syndrome was subsequently reported in individuals who received Johnson & Johnson vaccination. In this Viewpoint, we discuss the epidemiology, pathophysiology, and optimal diagnostic and therapeutic management of VITT. Presentation of an individual with possible VITT should raise prompt testing for anti-PF4 antibodies and initiation of treatment targeting autoimmune processes with intravenous immunoglobulin and prothrombotic processes with non-heparin anticoagulation.
Authors
I am an author on this paper
Click your name to claim this paper and add it to your profile.
Reviews
Recommended
No Data Available