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Arachchillage DJ, Thachil J, Anderson JAM, Baker P, Poles A, Kitchen S, Laffan M. Diagnosis and management of heparin-induced thrombocytopenia: Third edition. Br J Haematol 2024; 204:459-475. [PMID: 38153164 DOI: 10.1111/bjh.19180] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/21/2023] [Revised: 10/16/2023] [Accepted: 10/19/2023] [Indexed: 12/29/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Deepa J Arachchillage
- Centre for Haematology, Department of Immunology and Inflammation, Imperial College London, London, UK
- Department of Haematology, Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust, London, UK
| | - Jecko Thachil
- Department of Haematology, Manchester Royal Infirmary, Manchester, UK
| | - Julia A M Anderson
- Department of Haematology, Edinburgh Royal Infirmary, Edinburgh, Scotland
| | - Peter Baker
- Oxford Haemophilia and Thrombosis Centre, Oxford University Hospitals NHS Trust, Oxford, UK
| | - Anthony Poles
- Bristol NHS Blood and Transplant Centre, Bristol, UK
| | - Steve Kitchen
- Department of Haematology, Royal Hallamshire Hospital, Sheffield, UK
| | - Mike Laffan
- Centre for Haematology, Department of Immunology and Inflammation, Imperial College London, London, UK
- Department of Haematology, Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust, London, UK
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Gabarin N, Hack M, Revilla R, Arnold DM, Nazy I. Hematology in the post-COVID era: spotlight on vaccine-induced immune thrombotic thrombocytopenia and a conceptual framework (the 4P's) for anti-PF4 diseases. Expert Rev Hematol 2024; 17:39-45. [PMID: 38149432 DOI: 10.1080/17474086.2023.2298333] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2023] [Accepted: 12/19/2023] [Indexed: 12/28/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Vaccine-induced immune thrombotic thrombocytopenia (VITT) is a life-threatening prothrombotic disorder first identified following the introduction of adenoviral vector vaccines for COVID-19. The condition is characterized by anti-PF4 antibodies and clinically presents with thrombocytopenia and thrombosis often in unusual anatomical sites. AREAS COVERED In this review, we discuss the clinical presentation, diagnostic testing, and treatment of VITT. We also review VITT-like syndromes that have been described in patients without previous vaccination. We propose a conceptual framework for the mechanism of anti-PF4 diseases that includes sufficiently high levels of PF4, the presence of a Polyanion that can form immune complexes with PF4, a Pro-inflammatory milieu, and an immunological Predisposition - the 4Ps. EXPERT OPINION Significant progress has been made in understanding the characteristics of the VITT antibody and in testing methods that can confirm that diagnosis. Future work should be directed at understanding long-term outcomes, mechanisms of thrombosis, and individual risk factors for this rare but dangerous immune-thrombotic disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nadia Gabarin
- Department of Medicine, Michael G. DeGroote School of Medicine, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
- McMaster Center for Transfusion Research, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
| | - Michael Hack
- McMaster Center for Transfusion Research, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
| | - Ryan Revilla
- McMaster Center for Transfusion Research, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
| | - Donald M Arnold
- Department of Medicine, Michael G. DeGroote School of Medicine, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
- McMaster Center for Transfusion Research, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
| | - Ishac Nazy
- Department of Medicine, Michael G. DeGroote School of Medicine, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
- McMaster Center for Transfusion Research, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
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Uzun G, Althaus K, Hammer S, Wanner Y, Nowak-Harnau S, Enkel S, Bakchoul T. Diagnostic Performance of a Particle Gel Immunoassay in Vaccine-Induced Immune Thrombotic Thrombocytopenia. Hamostaseologie 2023; 43:22-27. [PMID: 36807823 DOI: 10.1055/a-1986-1556] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Vaccine-induced immune thrombotic thrombocytopenia (VITT) is a rare but serious complication of adenoviral vector-based COVID-19 vaccines. Similar to heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (HIT), antibodies reacting to platelet factor 4 (PF4) are responsible for platelet activation in VITT. The diagnosis of VITT includes the detection of anti-PF4 antibodies. Particle gel immunoassay (PaGIA) is one of the rapid immunoassays that is commonly used in the diagnosis of HIT to detect anti-PF4 antibodies. The aim of this study was to investigate the diagnostic performance of PaGIA in patients suspected of VITT. In this retrospective, single-center study, the correlation between PaGIA, enzyme immunoassay (EIA), and modified heparin-induced platelet aggregation assay (HIPA) in patients with findings suggestive of VITT was investigated. A commercially available PF4 rapid immunoassay (ID PaGIA H/PF4, Bio-Rad-DiaMed GmbH, Switzerland) and an anti-PF4/heparin EIA (ZYMUTEST HIA IgG, Hyphen Biomed) were used according to manufacturer's instructions. Modified HIPA was accepted as the gold standard test. Between March 8 and November 19, 2021, a total of 34 samples from clinically well-characterized patients (14 males, 20 females, mean age: 48.2 ± 18.2 years) were analyzed with PaGIA, EIA, and modified HIPA. VITT was diagnosed in 15 patients. Sensitivity and specificity of PaGIA were 54 and 67%, respectively. Anti-PF4/heparin optical density values were not significantly different between PaGIA positive and negative samples (p = 0.586). The sensitivity and specificity of EIA, on the other hand, were 87 and 100%, respectively. In conclusion, PaGIA is not reliable in the diagnosis of VITT because of its low sensitivity and specificity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Günalp Uzun
- Centre for Clinical Transfusion Medicine, University Hospital of Tuebingen, Tuebingen, Germany
| | - Karina Althaus
- Centre for Clinical Transfusion Medicine, University Hospital of Tuebingen, Tuebingen, Germany.,Institute for Clinical and Experimental Transfusion Medicine, Medical Faculty of Tuebingen, University Hospital of Tuebingen, Tuebingen, Germany
| | - Stefanie Hammer
- Centre for Clinical Transfusion Medicine, University Hospital of Tuebingen, Tuebingen, Germany
| | - Yvonne Wanner
- Centre for Clinical Transfusion Medicine, University Hospital of Tuebingen, Tuebingen, Germany
| | - Stefanie Nowak-Harnau
- Centre for Clinical Transfusion Medicine, University Hospital of Tuebingen, Tuebingen, Germany
| | - Sigrid Enkel
- Centre for Clinical Transfusion Medicine, University Hospital of Tuebingen, Tuebingen, Germany
| | - Tamam Bakchoul
- Centre for Clinical Transfusion Medicine, University Hospital of Tuebingen, Tuebingen, Germany.,Institute for Clinical and Experimental Transfusion Medicine, Medical Faculty of Tuebingen, University Hospital of Tuebingen, Tuebingen, Germany
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Autoimmune complications of COVID-19 and potential consequences for long-lasting disease syndromes. Transfus Apher Sci 2023; 62:103625. [PMID: 36585276 PMCID: PMC9757887 DOI: 10.1016/j.transci.2022.103625] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
The latest WHO report determined the increasing diversity within the CoV-2 omicron and its descendent lineages. Some heavily mutated offshoots of BA.5 and BA.2, such as BA.4.6, BF.7, BQ.1.1, and BA.2.75, are responsible for about 20% of infections and are spreading rapidly in multiple countries. It is a sign that Omicron subvariants are now developing a capacity to be more immune escaping and may contribute to a new wave of COVID-19. Covid-19 infections often induce many alterations in human physiological defense and the natural control systems, with exacerbated activation of the inflammatory and homeostatic response, as for any infectious diseases. Severe activation of the early phase of hemostatic components, often occurs, leading to thrombotic complications and often contributing to a lethal outcome selectively in certain populations. Development of autoimmune complications increases the disease burden and lowers its prognosis. While the true mechanism still remains unclear, it is believed to mainly be related to the host autoimmune responses as demonstrated, only in some patients suffering from the presence of autoantibodies that worsens the disease evolution. In fact in some studies the development of autoantibodies to angiotensin converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) was identified, and in other studies autoantibodies, thought to be targeting interferon or binding to annexin A1, or autoantibodies to phospholipids were seen. Moreover, the occurrence of autoimmune heparin induced thrombocytopenia has also been described in infected patients treated with heparin for controlling thrombogenicity. This commentary focuses on the presence of various autoantibodies reported so far in Covid-19 diseases, exploring their association with the disease course and the durability of some related symptoms. Attempts are also made to further analyze the potential mechanism of actions and link the presence of antibodies with pathological complications.
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Kanack AJ, Padmanabhan A. Vaccine-induced immune thrombotic thrombocytopenia. Best Pract Res Clin Haematol 2022; 35:101381. [PMID: 36494147 PMCID: PMC9467921 DOI: 10.1016/j.beha.2022.101381] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2022] [Revised: 09/02/2022] [Accepted: 09/02/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Vaccine-induced immune thrombotic thrombocytopenia (VITT) is primarily a complication of adenoviral vector-based covid-19 vaccination. In VITT, thrombocytopenia and thrombosis mediated by anti-platelet factor 4 (PF4) antibodies can be severe, often characterized by thrombosis at unusual sites such as the cerebral venous sinus and splanchnic circulation. Like in heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (HIT) and spontaneous HIT, VITT antibodies recognize PF4-polyanion complexes and activate PF4-treated platelets but additionally bind to un-complexed PF4, a critical finding that could be leveraged for more specific detection of VITT. Intravenous immunoglobulin and non-heparin-based anticoagulation remain the mainstay of treatment. Second dose/boosters of mRNA covid-19 vaccines appear safe in patients with adenoviral vector-associated VITT. Emerging data is consistent with the possibility that ultra-rare cases of VITT may be seen in the setting of mRNA and virus-like particle (VLP) technology-based vaccinations and until more data is available, it is prudent to consider VITT in the differential diagnosis of all post-vaccine thrombosis and thrombocytopenia reactions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adam J Kanack
- Division of Experimental Pathology, Department of Laboratory Medicine & Pathology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, United States.
| | - Anand Padmanabhan
- Divisions of Hematopathology, Transfusion Medicine & Experimental Pathology, Department of Laboratory Medicine & Pathology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, United States.
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