VPB0135 - Vaccine-induced thrombotic thrombocytopenia (VITT) in COVID-19 vaccination: Demystified

Background: The beacon of hope in the face of the COVID -19 pandemic has been the development of vaccinations. However, once these vaccines were administered to the masses, there were some rare complications reported. The most concerning among them was the development of a condition that presented with thrombosis, commonly in the cerebral and splanchnic veins in the presence of thrombocytopenia. This development led to a ban on some specific covid-19 vaccines in certain countries.

Aims: To examine the evidence available regarding the vaccine-associated complications and justify using these vaccines despite the risk.

Methods: Search methods
The data were searched through popular electronic databases, including Google Scholar, Springer publications, World Health Organization guidelines, PubMed and Cochrane. All articles were arranged as per the information they have provided and arranged in a systematic way.

Population
Data were searched for the population of > 18 years of age who received any COVID-19 vaccination irrespective of mortality status.

Outcomes
Occurrence of thrombotic events following COVID-19 vaccination

Results: The data has been extracted and presented to help clinicians better understand and identify this post-vaccination phenomenon. This study of recent data revealed a two-fold benefit, diagnostic and therapeutic. While evaluating a patient with thrombocytopenia and thrombosis, it is prudent to consider vaccine-induced thrombotic thrombocytopenia (VITT) as a differential as it helps avoid a battery of investigations to prove the disease's etiology. Moreover, the duration of anticoagulation can be restricted to 3 months in VITT, which otherwise would need to be continued life-long in unexplained thrombotic events.

Conclusion(s): This study concluded that VITT has become an important differential diagnosis to consider in light of the current pandemic, especially to avoid a battery of unnecessary investigations to prove the etiology.