Aortic thrombosis and acute limb ischemia after ChAdOx1 nCov-19 (Oxford-AstraZeneca) vaccination: a case of vaccine-induced thrombocytopenia and thrombosis (VITT).

INTRODUCTION: Vaccine-induced thrombocytopenia and thrombosis (VITT) is a rare but devastating adverse event associated with the ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 (Oxford-AstraZeneca) adenoviral vaccine against the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome CoronaVirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2). METHODS: A 49-year-old man presented to the emergency department with acute right limb ischemia (Rutherford IIB) nine days after his ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 (Oxford-AstraZeneca) vaccination. CT angiography revealed significant aortic thrombosis and right femoral artery occlusion. Severe thrombocytopenia (platelet count of 23 × 103/µL), promptly elevated D-dimers (37937 ng/mL) and a reduced fibrinogen level (176 mg/dL) were remarkable. ELISA testing for anti-PF4 antibodies confirmed the diagnosis of VITT. RESULTS: An emergency revascularization of the right leg was provided via thrombectomy. High-dose intravenous immunoglobulins were administered whereafter the platelet count restored gradually. Therapeutic anticoagulation was progressively started. The postoperative course was uneventful and follow-up imaging after four weeks showed an almost complete resolution of the significant aortic thrombosis. CONCLUSION: Early recognition and appropriate counseling of VITT is advocated to pursue a good clinical outcome. Our patient presenting with severe aortic thrombosis and acute limb ischemia was successfully treated by a vascular thrombectomy along with intravenous immunoglobulins and anticoagulation therapy as the mainstay therapy.

Covid-19 vaccine (covishield) heralding Moyamoya angiopathy

Indroduction: Thrombotic complications leading to cerebrovascular events occuring in conjunction with Covid-19 vaccination though rare, is well-documented. Moyamoya Angiopathy is a progressive intracranial vasculopathy leading to recurrent strokes. Case presentation: We present two index cases of young patient presenting with stroke and TIA following Covid-19 vaccination (COVISHIELD) leading to unmasking of Moyamoya Angiopathy. Conclusion(s): Arterial stroke following Covid-19 vaccination is documented, but uncommon. However, in the background of a vasculopathy, it may not be so rare. Moyamoya Angiopathy has been closely studied in the model of inflammatory pathophysiology in genetically predisposed patients leading to progressive vaso-occlusive disease. Few reports of Covid-19 infection potentiating Moyamoya Angiopathy symptoms are also documented. Thus, as an extrapolation of the inflammatory etiopathogenesis of Moyamoya Angiopathy, Covid-19 vaccination can similarly affect the Moyamoya symptomatology. These two index cases open new lines of enquiry regarding the interplay of Covid-19 vaccination and neurological destabilization in patients with underlying vasculopathy of inflammatory pathophysiology.Copyright © 2022

Vitamin D Supplementation Does Not Influence SARS-CoV-2 Vaccine Efficacy or Immunogenicity: Sub-Studies Nested within the CORONAVIT Randomised Controlled Trial.

Vitamin D deficiency has been reported to associate with the impaired development of antigen-specific responses following vaccination. We aimed to determine whether vitamin D supplements might boost the immunogenicity and efficacy of SARS-CoV-2 vaccination by conducting three sub-studies nested within the CORONAVIT randomised controlled trial, which investigated the effects of offering vitamin D supplements at a dose of 800 IU/day or 3200 IU/day vs. no offer on risk of acute respiratory infections in UK adults with circulating 25-hydroxyvitamin D concentrations <75 nmol/L. Sub-study 1 (n = 2808) investigated the effects of vitamin D supplementation on the risk of breakthrough SARS-CoV-2 infection following two doses of SARS-CoV-2 vaccine. Sub-study 2 (n = 1853) investigated the effects of vitamin D supplementation on titres of combined IgG, IgA and IgM (IgGAM) anti-Spike antibodies in eluates of dried blood spots collected after SARS-CoV-2 vaccination. Sub-study 3 (n = 100) investigated the effects of vitamin D supplementation on neutralising antibody and cellular responses in venous blood samples collected after SARS-CoV-2 vaccination. In total, 1945/2808 (69.3%) sub-study 1 participants received two doses of ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 (Oxford-AstraZeneca); the remainder received two doses of BNT162b2 (Pfizer). Mean follow-up 25(OH)D concentrations were significantly elevated in the 800 IU/day vs. no-offer group (82.5 vs. 53.6 nmol/L; mean difference 28.8 nmol/L, 95% CI 22.8-34.8) and in the 3200 IU/day vs. no offer group (105.4 vs. 53.6 nmol/L; mean difference 51.7 nmol/L, 45.1-58.4). Vitamin D supplementation did not influence the risk of breakthrough SARS-CoV-2 infection in vaccinated participants (800 IU/day vs. no offer: adjusted hazard ratio 1.28, 95% CI 0.89 to 1.84; 3200 IU/day vs. no offer: 1.17, 0.81 to 1.70). Neither did it influence IgGAM anti-Spike titres, neutralising antibody titres or IFN-γ concentrations in the supernatants of S peptide-stimulated whole blood. In conclusion, vitamin D replacement at a dose of 800 or 3200 IU/day effectively elevated 25(OH)D concentrations, but it did not influence the protective efficacy or immunogenicity of SARS-CoV-2 vaccination when given to adults who had a sub-optimal vitamin D status at baseline.

Covid-19 vaccine (covishield) heralding moyamoya angiopathy

Indroduction Thrombotic complications leading to cerebrovascular events occuring in conjunction with Covid-19 vaccination though rare, is well-documented. Moyamoya Angiopathy is a progressive intracranial vasculopathy leading to recurrent strokes. Case presentation We present two index cases of young patient presenting with stroke and TIA following Covid-19 vaccination (COVISHIELD) leading to unmasking of Moyamoya Angiopathy. Conclusion Arterial stroke following Covid-19 vaccination is documented, but uncommon. However, in the background of a vasculopathy, it may not be so rare. Moyamoya Angiopathy has been closely studied in the model of inflammatory pathophysiology in genetically predisposed patients leading to progressive vaso-occlusive disease. Few reports of Covid-19 infection potentiating Moyamoya Angiopathy symptoms are also documented. Thus, as an extrapolation of the inflammatory etiopathogenesis of Moyamoya Angiopathy, Covid-19 vaccination can similarly affect the Moyamoya symptomatology. These two index cases open new lines of enquiry regarding the interplay of Covid-19 vaccination and neurological destabilization in patients with underlying vasculopathy of inflammatory pathophysiology.

The Humoral Immune Response of the ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 Vaccine in Maintenance Dialysis Patients without Prior COVID-19 Infection.

BACKGROUND: Chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients tend to have a reduced immune response to infection and vaccination. The efficacy of current available COVID-19 vaccines in CKD patients has not been widely evaluated. METHODS: In the present study, three hundred and eight chronic dialysis patients received ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 (Oxford-AstraZeneca, AZ). Blood tests using an antibody against the receptor-binding domain (RBD) of the S1 subunit of the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein had performed at four designed time points before and after the first and second vaccine. RESULTS: The mean age of patients was 65.5 ± 12.38 years, and the male/female ratio was 61.4%:38.6% (189/119). Two weeks after the first vaccination, only 37.66% of patients had a positive antibody response (>50 AU/mL). However, 65.58% of the participants showed a delayed antibody response ten weeks after the first vaccine. Four weeks after the second vaccine, 94.16% of participants had positive antibody levels. Age was the most significant factor associated with antibody response. Flow cytometry analysis revealed that immune-naïve patients had significantly lower early active B cells and proliferative B cells than the age- and sex-matched immune responders. CONCLUSION: Despite a delayed response, 94.16% of chronic dialysis patients achieved a positive antibody response after two doses of the AZ vaccine. Age is the most significant factor associated with antibody response.