1. Population-wide persistent hemostatic changes after vaccination with ChAdOx1-S.
- Author
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de Laat B, Stragier H, de Laat-Kremers R, Ninivaggi M, Mesotten D, Thiessen S, Van Pelt K, Roest M, Penders J, Vanelderen P, Huskens D, De Jongh R, Laenen MV, Fivez T, Ten Cate H, Heylen R, Heylen L, and Steensels D
- Abstract
Various vaccines were developed to reduce the spread of the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Cov-2 (SARS-CoV-2) virus. Quickly after the start of vaccination, reports emerged that anti-SARS-CoV-2 vaccines, including ChAdOx1-S, could be associated with an increased risk of thrombosis. We investigated the hemostatic changes after ChAdOx1-S vaccination in 631 health care workers. Blood samples were collected 32 days on average after the second ChAdOx1-S vaccination, to evaluate hemostatic markers such as D-dimer, fibrinogen, α2-macroglobulin, FVIII and thrombin generation. Endothelial function was assessed by measuring Von Willebrand Factor (VWF) and active VWF. IL-6 and IL-10 were measured to study the activation of the immune system. Additionally, SARS-CoV-2 anti-nucleoside and anti-spike protein antibody titers were determined. Prothrombin and fibrinogen levels were significantly reduced after vaccination (-7.5% and -16.9%, p < 0.0001). Significantly more vaccinated subjects were outside the normal range compared to controls for prothrombin (42.1% vs. 26.4%, p = 0.026) and antithrombin (23.9% vs. 3.6%, p = 0.0010). Thrombin generation indicated a more procoagulant profile, characterized by a significantly shortened lag time (-11.3%, p < 0.0001) and time-to-peak (-13.0% and p < 0.0001) and an increased peak height (32.6%, p = 0.0015) in vaccinated subjects compared to unvaccinated controls. Increased VWF (+39.5%, p < 0.0001) and active VWF levels (+24.1 %, p < 0.0001) pointed toward endothelial activation, and IL-10 levels were significantly increased (9.29 pg/mL vs. 2.43 pg/mL, p = 0.032). The persistent increase of IL-10 indicates that the immune system remains active after ChAdOx1-S vaccination. This could trigger a pathophysiological mechanism causing an increased thrombin generation profile and vascular endothelial activation, which could subsequently result in and increased risk of thrombotic events., Competing Interests: BL, RdL-K, MR, DH, and MN are employees of Synapse Research Institute, part of Diagnostica Stago. HC received funding for research from Bayer and Pfizer; compensation fees for consultancy and advisory boards from Daaichi, Pfizer, Leo, Bayer, Galapagos, Anthos, Alexion, and Alveron; shareholder from Coagulation profile; all benefits were transferred to the CARIM institute to support investigator-initiated research. The remaining authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2022 de Laat, Stragier, de Laat-Kremers, Ninivaggi, Mesotten, Thiessen, Van Pelt, Roest, Penders, Vanelderen, Huskens, De Jongh, Laenen, Fivez, ten Cate, Heylen, Heylen and Steensels.)
- Published
- 2022
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