An observational study to identify the prevalence of thrombocytopenia and anti-PF4/polyanion antibodies in Norwegian health care workers after COVID-19 vaccination.
J Thromb Haemost
; 19(7): 1813-1818, 2021 07.
Article
in English
| MEDLINE | ID: covidwho-1205972
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND:
The COVID-19 vaccine from AstraZeneca (AZD1222) is one of several vaccines introduced to provide immunity against SARS-CoV-2. Recently, more than 50 cases have been reported presenting a combination of thrombosis, thrombocytopenia, and remarkably high levels of anti-platelet factor 4 (PF4)/polyanion antibodies post-AZD1222 vaccination. Now linked to the vaccine, the condition is referred to as vaccine-induced immune thrombotic thrombocytopenia. The European Medicines Agency still recommends vaccination with AZD1222, but several European countries have temporally paused and/or restricted its use because of the perceived risk of this severe side effect. Because there is no description of PF4/polyanion antibody testing in the clinical trials, knowledge about the prevalence of such antibodies in a vaccinated cohort is needed.OBJECTIVES:
To investigate prevalence of thrombocytopenia and anti-PF4/polyanion antibodies in a population recently vaccinated with AZD1222. PATIENTS/METHODS:
Four hundred and ninety-two health care workers recently vaccinated with the first dose of AZD1222 were recruited from two hospitals in Norway. Study individuals were screened for thrombocytopenia and the presence of anti-PF4/polyanion antibodies with a PF4/PVS immunoassay. Side effects after vaccination were registered.RESULTS:
The majority of study participants had normal platelet counts and negative immunoassay. Anti-PF4/polyanion antibodies without platelet activating properties were only detected in six individuals (optical density ≥0.4, range 0.58-1.16), all with normal platelet counts. No subjects had severe thrombocytopenia.CONCLUSIONS:
We found low prevalence of both thrombocytopenia and antibodies to PF4/polyanion-complexes among Norwegian health care workers after vaccination with AZD1222.Keywords
Full text:
Available
Collection:
International databases
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Thrombocytopenia
/
COVID-19
Type of study:
Cohort study
/
Diagnostic study
/
Observational study
/
Prognostic study
Topics:
Vaccines
Limits:
Humans
Country/Region as subject:
Europa
Language:
English
Journal:
J Thromb Haemost
Journal subject:
Hematology
Year:
2021
Document Type:
Article
Affiliation country:
Jth.15352
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