COVID-19 Vaccine Associated Thrombosis
Thrombosis is the formation of a blood clot inside a blood vessel, obstructing the flow of blood through the circulatory system. Thrombosis is of the most severe adverse effects of vaccines.
Potential Mechanism(s) of Action
Concerning the immunological mechanism, it has been hypothesized as either an innate or humoral-mediated response, through the activation of B and T cells, could take part in the pathophysiological mechanism of thrombosis.1) 2) 3)
Proposed Evidence
Dr. Paul Alexander summarized proposed evidence linking thrombosis with covid-19 inoculations January 5, 2022, shown below4):
Biswas et al5): “High ACE2 expression in the endothelium of blood vessels facilitates the high-affinity binding of SARS-CoV-2 using spike protein, causing infection and internal injury inside the vascular wall of blood vessels. This viral associated injury may directly/indirectly initiate activation of coagulation and clotting cascades forming internal blood clots. However, the presence of these clots is undesirable as they are responsible for thrombosis and need to be treated with anti-thrombotic intervention.”
Magro et al6): “At least a subset of sustained, severe COVID-19 may define a type of catastrophic microvascular injury syndrome mediated by activation of complement pathways and an associated procoagulant state.”
Lazebnik7): A distinctive feature of the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein is its ability to efficiently fuse cells, thus producing syncytia found in COVID-19 patients. This commentary proposes how this ability enables spike to cause COVID-19 complications e.g. clotting as well as side effects of COVID-19 vaccines e.g. clotting, and suggests how these effects can be prevented.
Zhang et al8): “Our findings uncovered a novel function of SARS-CoV-2 on platelet activation via binding of Spike to ACE2. SARS-CoV-2-induced platelet activation may participate in thrombus formation and inflammatory responses in COVID-19 patients.”
Iba et al9): “Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2/coronavirus disease 2019 frequently induces hypercoagulability with both microangiopathy and local thrombus formation, and a systemic coagulation defect that leads to large vessel thrombosis and major thromboembolic complications, including pulmonary embolism in critically ill hospitalized patients. D-dimers and fibrinogen levels should be monitored, and all hospitalized patients should undergo thromboembolism prophylaxis with an increase in therapeutic anticoagulation in certain clinical situations.”
Ng et al10): “It is also important to note that coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infection predisposes to an immuno-thrombogenic state, and a raised aPTT could also be due to the presence of a lupus anticoagulant. This has several clinical implications.”
Han et al11): “The values of D-dimer, fibrin/fibrinogen degradation products (FDP), and fibrinogen (FIB) in all SARS-CoV-2 cases were substantially higher than those in healthy controls. Moreover, D-dimer and FDP values in patients with severe SARS-CoV-2 infection were higher than those in patients with milder forms. Compared with healthy controls, prothrombin time activity (PT-act) was lower in SARS-CoV-2 patients. Thrombin time in critical SARS-CoV-2 patients was also shorter than that in controls. Conclusions The coagulation function in patients with SARS-CoV-2 is significantly deranged compared with healthy people, but monitoring D-dimer and FDP values may be helpful for the early identification of severe cases.”
Tang et al12): “The present study shows that abnormal coagulation results, especially markedly elevated D-dimer and FDP are common in deaths with Novel coronavirus pneumonia.”
Zhang et al13): “D-dimer on admission greater than 2.0 µg/mL (fourfold increase) could effectively predict in-hospital mortality in patients with Covid-19, which indicated D-dimer could be an early and helpful marker to improve management of Covid-19 patients.”
Naymagon et al14): “Observational data suggest an acquired prothrombotic state may contribute to the pathophysiology of COVID-19. These data include elevated D-dimers observed among many COVID-19 patients.”
Paliogiannis et al15): “Systematic review and meta-analysis showed that serum D-dimer concentrations in patients with severe COVID-19 are significantly higher when compared to those with non-severe forms.”
Rostami et al16): “Studies have reported an increase in D-dimer and fibrinogen concentrations in the early stages of COVID-19 disease a 3 to 4-fold rise in D-dimer levels is linked to poor prognosis. In addition, underlying diseases such as diabetes, cancer, stroke, and pregnancy may trigger an increase in D-dimer levels in COVID-19 patients. Measuring the level of D-dimer and coagulation parameters from the early stage of the disease can also be useful in controlling and managing of COVID-19 disease.”
Favaloro 17): “In suspected VITT, there is a generally highly elevated level of D-dimer, thrombocytopenia, and PF4 antibodies can be identified by ELISA-based assays, but not by other immunological assays typically positive in HITT. In addition, in some functional platelet activation assays, standard doses of heparin have been identified to inhibit activation in suspected VITT, but they tend to augment activation in HITT.”
Iba et al18): “Vaccine-induced immune thrombotic thrombocytopenia is an unexpected consequence of the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic era. Vaccine-induced immune thrombotic thrombocytopenia is a serious complication of vaccination that is not feasible to anticipate or prevent. When the patient presents with sustained headache, neurologic symptoms/signs, abdominal pain, dyspnea, or limb pain/swelling beginning 5-30 days post vaccination, platelet count and d-dimer must be measured, and imaging for thrombosis performed. Confirmation of vaccine-induced immune thrombotic thrombocytopenia diagnosis should be ordered (platelet factor 4/polyanion enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay; platelet factor 4-enhanced platelet activation testing) as treatment is initiated (nonheparin anticoagulation, IV immunoglobulin).”
Scully et al19): “In the absence of previous prothrombotic medical conditions, 22 patients presented with acute thrombocytopenia and thrombosis, primarily cerebral venous thrombosis, and 1 patient presented with isolated thrombocytopenia and a hemorrhagic phenotype. All the patients had low or normal fibrinogen levels and elevated d-dimer levels at presentation.”
Thaler et al20): “Conclude that early initiation of VIPIT treatment results in a swift response without thrombotic complications.”
Perricone et al21): “The occurrence of adverse events and autoimmune phenomena has been described following vaccination, and ITP may represent one of this.”
Perry et al22): “Cerebral venous thrombosis is more severe in the context of VITT. Non-heparin anticoagulants and immunoglobulin treatment might improve outcomes of VITT-associated cerebral venous thrombosis.”
Carli et al23): “Venous thromboembolic (VTE) complications have been consistently reported to be increased in SARS-CoV-2 infection, most probably as the results of a thrombophilic state secondary to inflammation and immune-thrombosis.”
Hadid et al24): “COVID-19 has become a pandemic in the United States and worldwide. COVID-19-induced coagulopathy (CIC) is commonly encountered at presentation manifested by considerable elevation of D-dimer and fibrin split products but with modest or no change in activated partial thromboplastin time and prothrombin time. CIC is a complex process that is distinctly different from conventional sepsis-induced coagulopathy. The cytokine storm induced by COVID-19 infection appears to be more severe in COVID-19, resulting in development of extensive micro- and macrovascular thrombosis and organ failure.”
Levi et al25): “Many patients with severe COVID-19 present with coagulation abnormalities that mimic other systemic coagulopathies associated with severe infections, such as disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) or thrombotic microangiopathy, but COVID-19 has distinct features.”
Reuben et al26): “The rising cases of severe adverse events following immunization (AEFI) with COVID-19 vaccines including thrombosis, thrombocytopenia, and in some instances, death have created serious global concerns and could enormously contribute to vaccine hesitancy.”
Di Micco et al27): “Vaccines against Covid-19, in fact, exert a protective action for common people and reduce viral diffusion. Yet, vaccination of a large number of people raises the question of a well-known complication of several types of vaccines; this complication is immune thrombocytopenia, which is sometimes associated with thrombosis as well.”
Aleem et al28): “A new clinical syndrome characterized by thrombosis at atypical sites combined with thrombocytopenia was observed in multiple patients’ days after vaccination. This novel clinical syndrome demonstrated striking similarities to heparin-induced thrombocytopenia; however, in the absence of prior heparin exposure was named vaccine-induced immune thrombotic thrombocytopenia (VITT).”
Cari et al29): “The immune reaction promoted by ChA vaccine may lead to not only thrombocytopenia and cerebral/splanchnic venous thrombosis but also other thrombotic and thromboembolic SAEs.”
Hippisley-Cox et al30): “Increased risks of haematological and vascular events that led to hospital admission or death were observed for short time intervals after first doses of the ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 and BNT162b2 mRNA vaccines.”
Peer-Reviewed Medical Pages Involving Thrombosis (includes terms: Thrombotic & Thromboembolic & Thromboembolism)
Three cases of acute venous thromboembolism in women after vaccination against COVID-19
Acute thrombosis of the coronary tree after vaccination against COVID-19
Thrombosis with thrombocytopenia syndrome associated with COVID-19 vaccines
Thrombosis with thrombocytopenia syndrome associated with COVID-19 viral vector vaccines
Roots of autoimmunity of thrombotic events after COVID-19 vaccination
Thrombotic immune thrombocytopenia induced by SARS-CoV-2 vaccine
Thrombosis and thrombocytopenia after vaccination with ChAdOx1 nCoV-19
Thrombotic thrombocytopenia after vaccination with ChAdOx1 nCov-19
Post-mortem findings in vaccine-induced thrombotic thrombocytopenia (covid-19)
Comparison of vaccine-induced thrombotic episodes between ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 and Ad26.COV.2.S vaccines
Prothrombotic immune thrombocytopenia after COVID-19 vaccination
Vaccine-induced thrombotic thrombocytopenia]: the dark chapter of a success story
Thrombosis after COVID-19 vaccination:possible link to ACE pathways
Thrombosis with thrombocytopenia after messenger RNA vaccine -1273
PF4 immunoassays in vaccine-induced thrombotic thrombocytopenia
Antibody epitopes in vaccine-induced immune immune thrombotic thrombocytopenia
Thrombosis with thrombocytopenia syndrome associated with COVID-19 vaccines
Laboratory testing for suspicion of COVID-19 vaccine-induced thrombotic (immune) thrombocytopenia
Comparison of vaccine-induced thrombotic events between ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 and Ad26.COV.2.S vaccines
Thrombosis with thrombocytopenia syndrome after COVID-19 immunization
Thrombosis with thrombocytopenia syndrome associated with COVID-19 viral vector vaccines
Atypical thrombosis associated with the vaccine VaxZevria® (AstraZeneca)
Vaccine-induced thrombosis and thrombocytopenia with bilateral adrenal haemorrhage
Palmar digital vein thrombosis after Oxford-AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccination
Thrombosis with thrombocytopenia after Messenger vaccine RNA-1273
Coronavirus (COVID-19) Vaccine-induced immune thrombotic thrombocytopenia (VITT)
Immunoglobulin adjuvant for vaccine-induced immune thrombotic thrombocytopenia
Immune thrombocytopenia associated with the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 mRNA vaccine BNT162b2
Secondary immune thrombocytopenia putatively attributable to COVID-19 vaccination
Immune thrombocytopenia following Pfizer-BioNTech BNT162b2 mRNA COVID-19 vaccine
Newly diagnosed idiopathic thrombocytopenia after COVID-19 vaccine administration
Idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura and the Modern Covid-19 vaccine
Thrombocytopenia after Pfizer and Moderna SARS vaccination – CoV -2
Immune thrombocytopenic purpura and acute liver injury after COVID-19 vaccination
Carotid artery immune thrombosis induced by adenovirus-vectored COVID-19 vaccine: case report
Autoimmunity roots of thrombotic events after vaccination with COVID-19
Cerebral venous sinus thrombosis after vaccination: the UK experience
Rare case of COVID-19 vaccine-associated intracranial hemorrhage with venous sinus thrombosis
Clinical features of vaccine-induced thrombocytopenia and immune thrombosis
Possible triggers of thrombocytopenia and/or hemorrhage by BNT162b2 vaccine, Pfizer-BioNTech
Case series of vaccine-induced thrombotic thrombocytopenia in a London teaching hospital
Genital necrosis with cutaneous thrombosis following vaccination with COVID-19 mRNA
Cerebral venous sinus thrombosis after mRNA-based COVID-19 vaccination
Thrombosis with Thrombocytopenia Syndrome Associated with COVID-19 Vaccines
Cerebral venous sinus thrombosis after COVID-19 vaccination: neurologic and radiologic management
Case report: cerebral sinus vein thrombosis in two patients with AstraZeneca SARS-CoV-2 vaccine
Thrombosis after COVID-19 vaccination: possible link to ACE pathways
Major artery thrombosis and vaccination against ChAdOx1 nCov-19
Thrombosis in pre- and post-vaccination phase of COVID-19
An unusual presentation of acute deep vein thrombosis after Modern COVID-19 vaccine: case report
Thrombosis formation after COVID-19 vaccination immunologic aspects: review article
Fatal cerebral venous sinus thrombosis after COVID-19 vaccination
Autoimmune roots of thrombotic events after COVID-19 vaccination.
New portal vein thrombosis in cirrhosis: is thrombophilia exacerbated by vaccine or COVID-19.
Cerebral venous sinus thrombosis after vaccination with COVID-19 mRNA of BNT162b2.
Cerebral venous sinus thrombosis following vaccination with Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 (BNT162b2)
Thromboembolic events in younger females exposed to Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna COVID-19 vaccines
Thrombosis after adenovirus-vectored COVID-19 vaccination: a concern for underlying disease
Deep venous thrombosis after vaccination with Ad26.COV2.S in adult males.
Post-mortem findings in vaccine-induced thrombotic thrombocytopenia
COVID-19 vaccine-induced thrombosis.
Anaphylactoid reaction and coronary thrombosis related to COVID-19 mRNA vaccine.
Occurrence of splenic infarction due to arterial thrombosis after vaccination with COVID-19
Deep venous thrombosis more than two weeks after COVID-19 vaccination
Information on ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 vaccine-induced immune-mediated thrombotic thrombocytopenia
Three cases of acute venous thromboembolism in women after coronavirus 2019 vaccination