2024-05-13 15:22:08
HEALTH.
Pharmaceutical giant AstraZeneca admitted before British courts that its COVID-19 vaccine can cause, in very rare cases, thrombocytopenia thrombosis syndrome (TTS). The laboratory’s statement occurred within the framework of a class action lawsuit in the United Kingdom, promoted by victims who attribute serious injuries and health damage derived from the application of the vaccine developed in collaboration with the University of Oxford.
AstraZeneca had previously pointed out the possibility of this adverse effect in 2021, through a publication in the journal The Lancet of the study titled “Very rare thrombosis with thrombocytopenia after the second dose of AZD1222: an analysis of the safety database global”, carried out by scientists from the laboratory itself.
There, they noted that “since the launch of the COVID-19 vaccine, very rare cases of TTS, which is known as vaccine-induced immune thrombotic thrombocytopenia (VITT), have been reported.”
Now, the pharmaceutical giant once again assured in the United Kingdom Court that its COVID vaccine shows an acceptable safety profile, backed by global regulators who confirm that the benefits of vaccination outweigh the risks associated with extremely rare side effects.
Thrombocytopenia thrombosis syndrome (TTS) consists of the formation of blood clots accompanied by a low platelet count. The United States National Institutes of Health (NIH) describes that platelets, also known as thrombocytes, are essential cells for coagulation, since when a person is injured, clots are responsible for sealing the blood vessels. wounds. A platelet count of less than 150,000 increases the risk of bleeding, which can occur both internally and on the surface of the skin. The severity of the bleeds increases as the platelet count decreases and can be life-threatening, especially if they occur in the brain. Early detection and treatment are key to preventing serious complications associated with this condition. The researchers described the process in which small amounts of the vaccine’s ChAdOx1 adenovirus enter the bloodstream through small lesions in the capillaries caused by the injection. This can lead to the formation of a complex between ChAdOx1 and PF4, potentially triggering clot formation.
Importantly, this process requires several intermediate steps before clots form, indicating that the mechanism is not direct or inevitable, but rather the product of an unfortunate and rare chain of events. “
Following the 2021 investigation, the company noted that although a potential mechanism has been identified, it does not conclusively establish that it is the cause of rare cases of thrombosis. Furthermore, he emphasized that the presence of PF4 antibodies does not automatically lead to the development of clots in most individuals.
The laboratory declared that the inoculant against the coronavirus can cause thrombosis syndrome with thrombocytopenia
Scientific studies and the WHO Global Advisory Committee on Vaccine Safety corroborated the existence of thrombosis syndrome with thrombocytopenia after the administration of the AstraZeneca vaccine, although they also highlighted that the events “are very rare.”
What are the symptoms of thrombosis?
Bleeding is responsible for the main symptoms of thrombocytopenia. The signs in the body can appear suddenly or over the course of days. Mild thrombocytopenia usually has no symptoms and is therefore often only detected through a routine blood test.
The United States NIH details that signs of thrombocytopenia may include:
-Bleeding that lasts a long time, even from small wounds.
-Petechiae, which are small, flat red dots under the skin caused by blood loss from blood vessels.
-Purpura, which consists of bleeding on the skin that can cause red, purple or yellow-brown spots.
-Nose or gum bleeding.
-Blood in urine or stool, which may look like red or dark tarry blood.
-Heavy menstrual bleeding.