Influenza Vaccination-associated Acute Thrombocytopenia and Diffuse Alveolar Hemorrhage

PHEVIR: an artificial intelligence algorithm that predicts the molecular role of pathogens in complex human diseases

Infectious diseases are known to cause a wide variety of post-infection complications. However, it's been challenging to identify which diseases are most associated with a given pathogen infection. Using the recently developed LeMeDISCO approach that predicts comorbid diseases associated with a given set of putative mode of action (MOA) proteins and pathogen-human protein interactomes, we developed PHEVIR, an algorithm which predicts the corresponding human disease comorbidities of 312 viruses and 57 bacteria. These predictions provide an understanding of the molecular bases of complications and means of identifying appropriate drug targets to treat them. As an illustration of its power, PHEVIR is applied to identify putative driver pathogens and corresponding human MOA proteins for Type 2 diabetes, atherosclerosis, Alzheimer's disease, and inflammatory bowel disease. Additionally, we explore the origins of the oncogenicity/oncolyticity of certain pathogens and the relationship between heart disease and influenza. The full PHEVIR database is available at https://sites.gatech.edu/cssb/phevir/ .

Severe immune thrombocytopenia following diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis and polio vaccination in a 36-year-old Caucasian woman: a case report

Background

Immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) is a rare autoimmune disorder characterized by low platelet counts and increased bleeding risk. The disease may be induced by other disorders, including malignancies, autoimmune diseases, infectious agents or drugs. However, ITP has also been described following vaccinations, such as the measles–mumps–rubella vaccination. In rare cases, ITP may occur in children who received a DTaP-IP (diphtheria, tetanus, acellular pertussis vaccine and inactivated poliovirus) vaccine. Hereinafter, we report the first well-documented cases of ITP in an adult patient in the temporal context of a DTaP-IP vaccination.

Case presentation

This case report attempts to capture the life-threatening picture of a 36-year-old otherwise healthy Caucasian woman with newly diagnosed severe immune thrombocytopenia in the temporal context of a DTaP-IP vaccination. Four days after receiving the vaccine, the women presented to her primary care physician with malaise, fever and recurrent epistaxis. Clinical examination revealed oral petechiae, ecchymoses, and non-palpable petechiae on both legs. The patient was immediately referred to a local hematology unit where she developed hematuria and an intestinal bleeding (WHO Bleeding Grade III) requiring multiple transfusions. After receiving oral corticosteroids and intravenous immunoglobulins, her platelets gradually recovered. Common causes of secondary ITP were ruled out by laboratory investigations, bone marrow and peripheral blood examinations. This raises the possibility of a (secondary) vaccination-associated thrombocytopenia. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first well-documented case of a DTaP-IP vaccination-related ITP in an adult patient in the English literature.

Conclusion

Although a causal connection between both entities may not be established, we would like to raise awareness in clinicians that ITP following DTaP-IP vaccinations is potentially not limited to children, but may also occur in adults. Users of DTaP-IP booster vaccines should be alert of the possibility of such adverse reactions.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s40001-022-00686-z.

Ocular Complications Following Vaccination for COVID-19: A One-Year Retrospective

Vaccination efforts as a mitigation strategy in the corona virus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic are fully underway. A vital component of understanding the optimal clinical use of these vaccines is a thorough investigation of adverse events following vaccination. To date, some limited reports and reviews have discussed ocular adverse events following COVID-19 vaccination, but a systematic review detailing these reports with manifestations and clinical courses as well as proposed mechanisms has yet to be published. This comprehensive review one-year into vaccination efforts against COVID-19 is meant to furnish sound understanding for ophthalmologists and primary care physicians based on the existing body of clinical data. We discuss manifestations categorized into one of the following: eyelid, orbit, uveitis, retina, vascular, neuro-ophthalmology, ocular motility disorders, and other.

Thrombocytopenia and Intracranial Venous Sinus Thrombosis after "COVID-19 Vaccine AstraZeneca" Exposure

Background: As of 8 April 2021, a total of 2.9 million people have died with or from the coronavirus infection causing COVID-19 (Corona Virus Disease 2019). On 29 January 2021, the European Medicines Agency (EMA) approved a COVID-19 vaccine developed by Oxford University and AstraZeneca (AZD1222, ChAdOx1 nCoV-19, COVID-19 vaccine AstraZeneca, Vaxzevria, Covishield). While the vaccine prevents severe course of and death from COVID-19, the observation of pulmonary, abdominal, and intracranial venous thromboembolic events has raised concerns. Objective: To describe the clinical manifestations and the concerning management of patients with cranial venous sinus thrombosis following first exposure to the “COVID-19 vaccine AstraZeneca”. Methods: Patient files, laboratory findings, and diagnostic imaging results, and endovascular interventions of three concerning patients were evaluated in retrospect. Results: Three women with intracranial venous sinus thrombosis after their first vaccination with “COVID-19 vaccine AstraZeneca” were encountered. Patient #1 was 22 years old and developed headaches four days after the vaccination. On day 7, she experienced a generalized epileptic seizure. Patient #2 was 46 years old. She presented with severe headaches, hemianopia to the right, and mild aphasia 13 days after the vaccination. MRI showed a left occipital intracerebral hemorrhage. Patient #3 was 36 years old and presented 17 days after the vaccination with acute somnolence and right-hand hemiparesis. The three patients were diagnosed with extensive venous sinus thrombosis. They were managed by heparinization and endovascular recanalization of their venous sinuses. They shared similar findings: elevated levels of D-dimers, platelet factor 4 antiplatelet antibodies, corona spike protein antibodies, combined with thrombocytopenia. Under treatment with low-molecular-weight heparin, platelet counts normalized within several days. Conclusion: Early observations insinuate that the exposure to the “COVID-19 vaccine AstraZeneca” might trigger the expression of antiplatelet antibodies, resulting in a condition with thrombocytopenia and venous thrombotic events (e.g., intracranial venous sinus thrombosis). These patients’ treatment should address the thrombo-embolic manifestations, the coagulation disorder, and the underlying immunological phenomena.