An interesting correspondence in The Lancet rheumatology published by Sciascia October 20th 2021 discusses this issue.
Vaccines represent a cornerstone in controlling the COVID-19 pandemic. The availability of data on the immunogenicity and safety of vaccines in patients with autoimmune diseases is progressively increasing.
However, some concerns have been raised regarding the safety of the vaccines in patients with antiphospholipid antibodies, as these antibodies have been reported to appear following both infection and vaccination and have been identified in patients with COVID-19.
Although a few cases of thrombocytopaenia and thrombotic events with clinical features resembling antiphospholipid syndrome have been reported in recipients of either adenoviral vector-based or mRNA-based COVID-19 vaccines, a pathogenic link and, more critically, the clinical relevance of antiphospholipid antibodies in these clinical settings have yet to be fully elucidated.
To assess the safety and tolerability of COVID-19 vaccines in people with antiphospholipid antibodies, the researchers surveyed 102 vaccinated patients at the Centre of Research of Immunopathology and Rare Diseases in Turin, of whom 52 had a diagnosis of antiphospholipid syndrome and 50 had antiphospholipid antibodies without clinical features of the syndrome.
67 of 102 received the Pfizer vaccine and 35 received the Moderna vaccine. 89 that is 87%, participants had received two doses of vaccine and 13, 13% had received a single dose of vaccine because of a previous proven SARS-CoV-2 infection.
78 of 102 that is 76% of patients had at least one side-effect. 45, 44% reported pain at the injection site, 37, 36% fatigue, and 29, 28% headache.
Symptoms were transient and self-limiting within 10 days.
There was no difference in frequencies of systemic side-effects between the two mRNA vaccines.
Symptoms were reported as mild in 72, 71% patients and moderate in 30, 29%. No symptoms compatible with new thrombotic events were reported. The rate of reactions was not different when comparing those after the first and second doses.
Only one patient with thrombotic antiphospholipid syndrome and a known history of mild thrombocytopaenia who was on long-term vitamin K antagonist therapy, reported the occurrence of self-limiting purpuric lesions on her calves 10 days after the second dose.
Blood tests were unremarkable except for a single transient fluctuation of platelet count. Consequent investigations showed a platelet count consistently above 100,000/mm.
Although more data is needed including long-term follow-up, immunogenicity data from this survey shows that the mRNA COVID-19 vaccines seem to have an acceptable safety and tolerability profile in patients with antiphospholipid antibodies.
No major adverse effects, nor thrombotic events were reported. Side-effects seemed frequent, but mild and transient in nature.
The London General Practice, the leading doctors’ clinic in Harley Street commends the Government on its vaccination programme and encourages all those eligible for a booster to enrol and have it.
Dr Paul Ettlinger
BM, DRCOG, FRCGP, FRIPH, DOccMed