COVID-19 vaccine-associated acute cerebral venous thrombosis and pulmonary artery embolism

Abstract

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is still an ongoing pandemic, caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). However, the administration of vaccines against SARS-CoV-2 has resulted in reports of adverse events after vaccination in worldwide. Several cases of thrombotic events and thrombocytopenia developed after receiving the first dose of ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 (AstraZeneca) vaccine. ^{1, 2} Including cerebral venous sinus thrombosis, pulmonary embolus, and deep vein thrombosis have been reported recently. ^1–3 The reaction is mediated by platelet-activating antibodies against platelet factor 4 (PF4), which clinically mimics autoimmune heparin-induced thrombocytopenia.