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Acquired Thrombotic Thrombocytopenic Purpura following inactivated COVID 19 vaccines: Two case-reports and a short literature review
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  • Imen Ben Saida,
  • Iyed Maatouk,
  • Radhouane Toumi,
  • Emna Bouslama,
  • Hajer Ben Ismail,
  • Chaker Ben Salem,
  • Mohamed Boussarsar
Imen Ben Saida
Farhat Hached University Hospital of Sousse

Corresponding Author:imen.bensaida@yahoo.com

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Iyed Maatouk
Farhat Hached University Hospital of Sousse
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Radhouane Toumi
Farhat Hached University Hospital of Sousse
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Emna Bouslama
Farhat Hached University Hospital of Sousse
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Hajer Ben Ismail
Farhat Hached University Hospital of Sousse
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Chaker Ben Salem
Universite de Sousse Faculte de Medecine de Sousse
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Mohamed Boussarsar
Farhat Hached University Hospital of Sousse
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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.