How rare are blood clots after the AstraZeneca vaccine? What should you pay attention to? And how are they treated?

Some guidelines of the Australian government have focused on a disease that involves the formation of low levels of platelets.

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It is now almost systematically used to associate the AstraZeneca vaccine with any blood clots: in rare cases, an immune reaction has in fact led to antibodies which in turn caused a serious bleeding disorder and therefore thrombosis.

There's not much to worry about: Public health experts have repeatedly argued that the benefits of the vaccine far outweigh the risks for most people.

Now, some Australian government guidelines have focused on a link between the vaccine Vaxzevria - formerly Covid-19 Vaccine AstraZeneca - is a very rare disease, which involves the formation of blood clots and low platelet levels. It is the so-called thrombosis with thrombotic thrombocytopenia (low platelet levels, in fact), TTS.

Read also: AstraZeneca, Ema recommends contacting your doctor in case of these symptoms of thrombosis

But how common is TTS?

TTS is a lot a rare city According to the Australian Government document, as of May 13, 2021, for people over the age of 50, it is estimated that the incidence was 12 in a million people given the AstraZeneca vaccine (reported cases TTS occurred between 4 and 28 days after vaccination, usually with the first dose of the AstraZeneca vaccine).

But for those under the age of 50, while still very rare, the currently estimated rate is higher, with around 20-40 cases per million people. These estimates are based on a small number of people who have been vaccinated in Australia but are similar to rates found in other countries.

Are there any groups most at risk of developing TTS?

TTS appears to be more common in young people, although cases have been reported in older adults. We do not know if there are any pre-existing medical conditions that could contribute to the formation of clots. Researchers are investigating.

What are the symptoms of TTS?

TTS can cause some of the following symptoms:

a constant headache that:
- appears at least 4 days after vaccination
- it does not improve with simple painkillers
- it can get worse when you lie down
nausea and vomit
blurred vision
difficulty speaking
drowsiness
attacks
difficulty in breathing
chest pain
swollen legs
continuous stomach pain
small blood spots under the skin away from the injection site

Are the benefits of the AstraZeneca vaccine greater than the risks?

Yes. The benefits of vaccination are greater than the risks, especially for people who have a higher risk of becoming seriously ill with Covid-19.

The American study

The risk of CVST blood clots is 8-10 times higher following a Covid-19 infection than the risk associated with a COVID-19 vaccine.

In the United States, however, the American Heart Association and the American Stroke Association Stroke Council have published important information on CVST, TTS and VITT: the signs and symptoms and the best treatment options. The special report, Diagnosis and Management of Cerebral Venous Sinus Thrombosis with Vaccine-Induced Immune Thrombotic Thrombocytopenia, is published in Stroke.

The study specifically refers to the diagnosis and management of cerebral venous sinus thrombosis (CVST) with vaccine-induced thrombotic thrombocytopenia (TTS) (VITT).

COVID-19 infection is a significant risk factor for CVST. A preliminary analysis of US data during the COVID-19 pandemic found that the risk of CVST due to Covid-19 infection is 8-10 times higher than the risk of CVST after receiving a Covid-19 vaccine, he said. Karen L. Furie, MD, MPH, lead author of the special report.

The analysis included data from 59 healthcare organizations, for a total of 81 million patients, more than 98% of them in the United States, among the nearly 514 patients in the database diagnosed with Covid-19 as of January 20, 2020. to 25 March. In 2021, 20 patients were diagnosed with CVST. These data were compared with the incidence of CVST in adults who received Pfizer or Moderna vaccine before March 25, 2021, excluding those previously diagnosed with Covid. No cases of thrombocytopenia (low platelets) have been diagnosed among nearly 490 vaccinated adults.

HERE you can find the complete study.

Read our articles on blood clots.

Fonti: Health Gov Au / Stroke