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Recommendations for the diagnosis and management of vaccine-induced immune thrombotic thrombocytopenia

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B F Jacobson, E Schapkaitz, M Mer, S Louw, S Haas, H R Buller, B Brenner, A T O Abdool-Carrim, P de Jong, P Hsu, D Jankelow, M Lebos, B Levy, H Radford, P Rowji, L Redman, M Sussman, D van der Jagt, P F Wessels, P G Williams, on behalf of the Southern African Society of Thrombosis and Haemostasis

Abstract


There have recently been safety concerns regarding an increased risk of vaccine-induced immune thrombotic thrombocytopenia (VITT) following administration of SARS-CoV-2 adenoviral vector vaccines. The Southern African Society of Thrombosis and Haemostasis reviewed the emerging literature on this idiosyncratic complication. A draft document was produced and revised by consensus agreement by a panel of professionals from various specialties. The recommendations were adjudicated by independent international experts to avoid local bias. We present concise, practical guidelines for the clinical management of VITT.


Authors' affiliations

B F Jacobson, Department of Molecular Medicine and Haematology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa

E Schapkaitz, Department of Molecular Medicine and Haematology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa

M Mer, Divisions of Critical Care and Pulmonology, Department of Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa

S Louw, Department of Molecular Medicine and Haematology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa

S Haas, Formerly Klinikum rechts der Isar, Technical University of Munich, Germany

H R Buller, Academic Medical Centre, University of Amsterdam, The Netherlands

B Brenner, Rambam Health Care Campus, Technion, Haifa, Israel

A T O Abdool-Carrim, Milpark Hospital, Johannesburg, South Africa

P de Jong, Department of Obstetrics, Christiaan Barnard Memorial Hospital, Cape Town, South Africa

P Hsu, Milpark Hospital, Johannesburg, South Africa

D Jankelow, Linksfield Clinic, Johannesburg, South Africa

M Lebos, Linksfield Clinic, Johannesburg, South Africa

B Levy, Rosebank Clinic, Johannesburg, South Africa

H Radford, Private practice, Johannesburg, South Africa

P Rowji, Milpark Hospital, Johannesburg, South Africa

L Redman, Vascular Centre, Christiaan Barnard Memorial Hospital, Cape Town, South Africa

M Sussman, Milpark Hospital, Johannesburg, South Africa

D van der Jagt, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa

P F Wessels, Ampath Laboratories, Pretoria, South Africa

P G Williams, Milpark Hospital, Johannesburg, South Africa

on behalf of the Southern African Society of Thrombosis and Haemostasis,

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Keywords

Acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2; Vaccine; Thrombosis; Thrombocytopenia

Cite this article

South African Medical Journal 2021;111(6):535-537.

Article History

Date submitted: 2021-04-20
Date published: 2021-04-20

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