Acquired thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura after first vaccination dose of BNT162b2 mRNA COVID-19 vaccine

Dear Editor,

Thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP) may occur after vaccinations [1–3]. Here, we report a case of severe TTP early after vaccination against COVID-19.

An 84-year-old female patient was admitted to the hospital with partial hemiplegia, scattered petechiae, and severe arterial hypertension. Cerebral magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) revealed multiple subacute emboli without vessel occlusion. Laboratory findings showed thrombocytopenia (45 × 10⁹/l), Coombs negative hemolytic anemia (hemoglobin 7.9 g/dl; schistocytes 42‰, haptoglobin < 10 mg/dl; total serum bilirubin 2455 mg/dl; Fig. 1), and acute renal failure (serum creatinine 1.95 mg/dl).

Fig. 1.

Platelet counts (A), schistocytes on a peripheral blood smear (B), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) (C), and inhibitory ADAMTS13-antibody, ADAMTS13-activity, and ADAMTS13-antigen (D) during the initial 40-day follow-up. Plasma exchange was performed daily until day 18 except for day 9. Rituximab (1000 mg) was applied on days 8 (R1) and 18 (R2). Normal value ranges are marked in gray

Sixteen days before admission, the patient received the first vaccination dose of BNT162b2 (Comirnaty®; Biontech/Pfizer) against COVID-19. Anti-platelet factor 4–IgG was 0.04 U/ml (normal range < 1.0 U/ml); HIPA (heparin-induced platelet antibody) and PIPA (platelet-iodinated protein A) tests were negative at admission so that a SARS-CoV-2 vaccine-induced immune TTP was rather unlikely [4]. Vaccination-related IgG-antibodies against the spike protein were detected (28.6 AU/ml; normal range < 12 AU/ml), without evidence of active or past SARS-CoV-2 infection (negative nucleocapside-IgG and SARS-CoV-2-PCR). Suspecting an acquired TTP, corticosteroid, and plasma exchange therapy (PEX) with fresh frozen plasma were initiated. TTP could be confirmed with an ADAMTS13 activity of 1.6% (60–121%), ADAMTS13-antigen 0.03 IU/ml (0.41–1.41 IU/ml), and inhibitory ADAMTS13-antibodies of 82.2 U/ml (< 12 U/ml). The platelet count increased to 118 × 10⁹/l at day 6 of daily PEX.

After an acute transient loss of consciousness and a sudden drop in platelet count (19 × 10⁹/l) at day 8, 1000 mg rituximab (RTX) was applied in addition to a second corticosteroid pulse. ADAMTS13 antibodies were reduced but still positive (19.9 U/ml); ADAMTS13 activity was 14%. To prevent RTX washout, daily PEX was interrupted for 36 h. As hemolysis may have been aggravated by severe arterial hypertension, likely mediated by TTP-associated endothelial activation stimulating the renin-angiotensin-system, we ensured the consequent administration of angiotensin receptor blocker (candesartan). In the following days, the platelet count and clinical condition improved. After 17 sessions of PEX and the second administration of 1000 mg RTX (day 18), a partial remission was reached with platelets constantly above 100 × 10⁹/l, stabilized red blood cell count (hemoglobin > 9 g/dl), normalized kidney function (creatinine 0.6 mg/dl), and strongly regredient neurologic symptoms. Furthermore, a sufficient proof of ADAMTS13 activity (43–70%) and normalized ADAMTS13 antibodies, lactate dehydrogenase, and other hemolytic parameters supported the findings of clinical improvement (Fig. 1). However, schistocytes were still increased, suggesting possible ongoing mechanical hemolytic activity. Initially increased SARS-CoV-2 IgG and anti-spike titer were normalized and non-detectable at days 9 and 18 as a consequence of daily PEX and the use of rituximab. It can be assumed that no sufficient protection by vaccination could be achieved.

TTP has been described as a complication in COVID-19 patients [5]. A mechanism might be excessive von Willebrand factor (vWF) liberation from the endothelium, exceeding ADAMTS13 capacity for cleaving [6, 7]. Furthermore, Sissa et al. reported about a relapse of TTP 6 days after the second dose administration of BNT162b2 [8]. So far, precise immunological mechanisms remain unclear, but associations to vaccinations as a potential immunological trigger for the formation of antibodies against ADAMTS13 have been published earlier [1–3]. A pre-vaccination gene expression pattern might be an explanation for developing autoantibodies following vaccination [9].

To our knowledge, this is the first case of a primary manifestation of acquired TTP associated with vaccination with BNT162b2 especially in an older woman who is otherwise not particularly prone to having TTP. TTP should be considered in patients with thrombocytopenia after vaccination against COVID-19 and be added to the safety profile of BNT162b2 [10].

Funding

Open Access funding enabled and organized by Projekt DEAL.

Declarations

Ethical approval

This article does not contain any studies with human participants or animals performed by any of the authors.

Competing interests

The authors declare no competing interests.