Skip to main content
Oxford University Press - PMC COVID-19 Collection logoLink to Oxford University Press - PMC COVID-19 Collection
. 2022 Apr 12:keac224. doi: 10.1093/rheumatology/keac224

Impact of COVID-19 and COVID-19 vaccination on high-risk patients with Antiphospholipid Syndrome: a nationwide survey

Vittorio Pengo 1,, Teresa Del Ross 2, Marta Tonello 3, Laura Andreoli 4, Angela Tincani 5, Paolo Gresele 6, Elena Silvestri 7, Paolo Simioni 8, Elena Campello 9, Ariela Hoxha 10, Anna Falanga 11, Angelo Ghirarduzzi 12, Gentian Denas 13; COVID-19 APS collaborators
PMCID: PMC9047199  PMID: 35412604

Abstract

Objectives

Patients with antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) and triple-positive for antiphospholipid antibodies (aPL) are at high-risk of recurrent events. As COVID-19 and COVID-19 vaccination may induce thrombotic complications, the objective of the study was to assess the course of COVID-19 and adverse events after vaccination in these patients.

Methods

This is a nationwide multicentre survey conducted in nine APS referral centres by means of a questionnaire. Included patients are thrombotic APS with triple-positive aPL confirmed 12 weeks apart. Reference specialist physicians used a four-graded scale of severity for COVID-19 [from 0 (asymptomatic) to 3 (hospitalization in intensive care unit)] and a six-graded scale for adverse reactions to vaccination [from 0 (transient local injection site sign/symptoms) to 5 (potentially life-threatening reactions)]. Outcomes were considered within a 30-days period.

Results

Out of 161 patients interviewed, 18 (11%) had COVID-19. All of them fully recovered without any progression to severe disease nor thromboembolic event. One-hundred-forty-six patients received the first (92%) and 129 (80%) the second dose of vaccine; side effects were minimal and, in most cases, (83% after the first and 68% after the second shot) limited to a sore arm. Fifteen patients (9%) were unvaccinated. Most of them raised doubts on the need for vaccination, complained for poor safety and in general were reluctant on COVID-19 vaccination.

Conclusion

Patients with triple-positive thrombotic APS did not suffer from severe COVID-19 outcomes. Importantly, COVID-19 vaccination was well tolerated. These data may reassure patients and physicians and contribute in reducing hesitancy in unvaccinated patients.

Keywords: Antiphospholipd Syndrome, COVID-19, Vaccination, Thrombosis


Articles from Rheumatology (Oxford, England) are provided here courtesy of Oxford University Press

RESOURCES