COVID‐19 vaccine (mRNA BNT162b2) and COVID‐19 infection‐induced thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura in adolescents

• Published in: Pediatric blood & cancer Vol. 69; no. 6; pp. e29681 - n/a
• Main Authors: Vorster, Luna, Kirk, Susan E., Muscal, Eyal, Despotovic, Jenny M., Cohen, Clay T., Sartain, Sarah E.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Wiley Subscription Services, Inc 01.06.2022; John Wiley and Sons Inc
• Subjects: acquired TTP; Adolescent; Adolescents; BNT162 Vaccine; Child; COVID-19; COVID-19 - complications; COVID-19 vaccines; COVID-19 Vaccines - adverse effects; Hematology; Hematology: Brief Report; Hematology: Brief Reports; Humans; Infections; mRNA; mRNA Vaccines; Oncology; Pediatrics; Purpura; Purpura, Thrombotic Thrombocytopenic - genetics; RNA, Messenger - genetics; SARS-CoV-2; Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2; Teenagers; Thrombocytopenic purpura; Thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura; TTP; Vaccination; Vaccines; Vaccines, Synthetic; COVID-19; acquired TTP; TTP; vaccination
• ISSN: 1545-5009; 1545-5017
• DOI: 10.1002/pbc.29681

The mRNA COVID‐19 vaccine and COVID‐19 infection caused by the SARS‐CoV‐2 virus may be immunologic triggers for the development of thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP). There is not yet literature that discusses TTP induced by COVID‐19 vaccination or infection in pediatric or adolescent patients. We describe three adolescents presenting with TTP (both de novo and relapsed disease) following administration of the Pfizer COVID‐19 vaccine or after COVID‐19 infection. Our observations demonstrate that the Pfizer‐BioNTech mRNA vaccine and COVID‐19 infection can act as triggers for the development/relapse of both congenital and acquired TTP.