Scientific publications

Thrombosis with Thrombocytopenia Syndrome following adenovirus vector-based vaccines to prevent COVID-19: epidemiology and clinical presentation in Spain

May 23, 2022 | Magazine: Neurología

David García-Azorín  1 , Edurne Lázaro  2 , David Ezpeleta  3 , Ramón Lecumberri  4 , Rafael de la Cámara  5 , Mar Castellanos  6 , Cristina Iñiguez Martínez  7 , Lara Quiroga-González  2 , Gabriela Elizondo Rivas  8 , Aránzazu Sancho-López  9 , Pilar Rayón Iglesias  10 , Eva Segovia  10 , Consuelo Mejías  10 , Dolores Montero Corominas  10


Background: We describe the epidemiological and clinical characteristics of thrombosis with thrombocytopenia syndrome (TTS) cases reported in Spain.

Methods: We included all venous or arterial thrombosis with thrombocytopenia following adenovirus vector-based vaccines (AstraZeneca or Janssen) to prevent COVID-19 disease between February 1st and September 26th, 2021. We describe the crude rate and the standardized morbidity ratio. We assessed the predictors of mortality.

Results: Sixty-one cases were reported and 45 fulfilled eligibility criteria, 82% women. The crude TTS rate was 4/1,000,000 doses and 14-15/1,000,000 doses between 30-49 years. The number of observed cases of cerebral venous thrombosis was 6-18 higher than the expected in patients younger than 49 years. Symptoms started 10 (interquartile range (IQR): 7-14) days after vaccination. Eighty percent (95% confidence interval (CI): 65-90%) had thrombocytopenia at the time of the emergency department visit, and 65% (95% CI: 49-78%) had D-dimer >2000 ng/mL. Patients had multiple location thrombosis in 36% and fatal outcome in 24% cases. A platelet nadir <50,000 /μL (odds ratio (OR): 7.4; CI 95%: 1.2-47.5) and intracranial hemorrhage (OR: 7.9; IC95%: 1.3-47.0) were associated with fatal outcome.

Conclusion: TTS must be suspected in patients with symptoms 10 days after vaccination and thrombocytopenia and/or D-dimer increase.

CITATION  Neurologia. 2022 May 23. doi: 10.1016/j.nrl.2022.04.010

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