Thrombocytopenia after corona vaccination: possible consequences of the rare complication

• ofJuliane Gutmann

  –

  shut down

–

After a corona vaccination, 67 cases of thrombosis with thrombocytopenia (TTS) have been reported so far. You can find out which complication is involved here.

When a thrombosis occurs, blood clots form in veins or arteries. In the worst case, these block the blood vessel. In this case, the tissue behind is no longer adequately supplied with blood (and therefore also oxygen) – and dies. In theory, thrombosis can occur in any part of the body. If a coronary artery is blocked, doctors speak of a heart attack. A thrombus in the brain, on the other hand, results in a stroke. The leg veins can also be affected.

Genetically caused blood clotting disorders as well as long, cramped sitting can trigger thrombosis *. But even after corona vaccinations, blood clots formed in very rare cases. The current safety report of the Paul Ehrlich Institute (PEI) as the Federal Institute for Vaccines and Biomedical Medicines states: “By April 30, 2021, 67 cases of thrombosis with thrombocytopenia (TTS) were reported to the Paul Ehrlich Institute after vaccination with Vaxzevria occurred. Fourteen (21%) patients died ”. After vaccination with Comirnaty (Biontech) and the Covid-19 vaccine Moderna, no case of TTS has been reported so far. But even after vaccination with the Biontech and Moderna preparations, thrombopenia occurred very rarely.

What is thrombocytopenia?

Thrombocytopenia or thrombopenia is a reduction in the number of platelets (thrombocytes) in the blood to less than 150,000 / µl. This increases the risk of bleeding eventswhich, however, usually only occur when the value falls below a limit of approx. 20,000 / µl, informs the Department of Internal Medicine I at the University Medical Center Freiburg. Pronounced thrombocytopenia can lead to bleeding in the skin and bruises, according to the specialist portal msdmanuals.

Viral infections with the hepatitis C virus, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), Epstein-Barr virus and many other viruses can lead to thrombocytopenia, it said. But some drugs such as heparin or certain antibiotics could do the same Reduce the number of platelets in the bloodstream.

Symptoms of thrombocytopenia: when to see a doctor after the corona vaccination

By March 30, 2021, eight thrombocytopenias were reported to the PEI after vaccination with the Biontech active ingredient, two cases after the Moderna vaccination and 46 people had noticed symptoms of thrombocytopenia after the Astrazeneca vaccination. According to the PEI, there were up to 30 days between the vaccination and the onset of the symptom. To classify: Since the start of the vaccination campaign at the end of December 2020, 21,329,667 vaccinations with Comirnaty (Biontech), 1,667,261 vaccinations with the Moderna preparation and 5,775,546 vaccinations with Vaxzevria from Astrazeneca have been carried out. The reported thrombocytopenias are therefore very rare complications.

The following symptoms can be according to the msd manual indicate thrombocytopenia: