Long-term persistence of high anti-PF4 antibodies titer in a challenging case of AZD1222 vaccine-induced thrombotic thrombocytopenia

Submitted: 19 March 2023
Accepted: 1 June 2023
Published: 28 June 2023
Abstract Views: 423
PDF: 151
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Authors

A syndrome occurring after adenoviral vector anti-SARS-CoV-2 vaccination, characterized by thrombocytopenia, venous thrombosis, and circulating anti-PF4 antibodies, known as vaccine-induced immune thrombotic thrombocytopenia (VITT), is well described. Data on the long-term course of this syndrome are lacking. Our aim is to report the clinical and laboratory features of a patient with VITT from diagnosis and during 21 months of follow-up. Cerebral venous thrombosis associated with elevated D-dimer, low fibrinogen, thrombocytopenia, and anti-PF4 antibodies positivity occurred in this patient after ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 vaccination. Cerebral thrombosis required a revascularization procedure and decompressive craniectomy. Upon dexamethasone and anticoagulant treatment initiation, the platelet count recovered. However, a persistently high anti-PF4 antibody titer, without thrombosis recurrence, was observed. Little is known about the long-term persistence of anti-PF4 antibodies, their clinical significance, and their possible role in guiding therapeutic decisions. In our patient, we decided to continue anticoagulant treatment beyond 21 months with parallel anti-PF4 antibody monitoring.

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Citations

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How to Cite

Barcella, L., Ambaglio, C., Gritti, P., Schieppati, F., Brusegan, V., Sanga, E., … Falanga, A. (2023). Long-term persistence of high anti-PF4 antibodies titer in a challenging case of AZD1222 vaccine-induced thrombotic thrombocytopenia. Bleeding, Thrombosis and Vascular Biology, 2(2). https://doi.org/10.4081/btvb.2023.72

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