Acquired Thrombotic Thrombocytopenic Purpura following inactivated COVID
19 vaccines: Two case-reports and a short literature review
Abstract
The Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2)
outbreak from December 2019 causing millions of deaths all over the
world and the lack of specific treatment for severe forms of coronavirus
disease 2019 (COVID-19) has led to vaccines development in record time
with emergency use authorization in several countries increasing the
risk of vaccine safety issues. Recently, several cases of Thrombotic
Thrombocytopenic Purpura (TTP) have been reported following COVID-19
vaccination. TTP represents a life-threatening consumptive coagulopathy
requiring urgent diagnosis and prompt treatment. It is a rare disease
characterized by thrombocytopenia, microangiopathic hemolytic anemia and
ischemic end-organ lesions. It can be either congenital or acquired.
Various events such viral infections, medication, pregnancy,
malignancies, and vaccinations may cause TTP. Clinicians should consider
this diagnosis when evaluating thrombocytopenia in the post-vaccine
period. Here, we report two cases of acquired TTP following Sinopharm
COVID-19 vaccine (BBIBP-CorV) and Sinovac COVID-19 vaccine (CoronaVac).
Diagnosis was based on clinical presentation and confirmed with severe
reduction in the activity of von Willebrand factor-cleaving protease
ADAMTS-13 and the presence of inhibitory autoantibodies. The two
patients were successfully treated with corticosteroids, plasma exchange
therapy and rituximab in the acute phase. In the literature, the
reported cases of TTP induced by COVID-19 vaccination occurred after
Adenoviral Vector DNA- and SARS-CoV-2 mRNA-Based COVID-19 Vaccines. To
the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of acquired TTP
after inactivated virus COVID-19 vaccines. A short literature review
regarding acquired TTP patients following COVID-19 vaccines is also
included.