Scientists say they have found a cause for rare bleeding associated with AstraZeneca vaccine

Several European countries briefly stopped the distribution of the vaccine this week after more than 30 recipients experienced the condition known as cerebral venous sinus thrombosis or CVST. Most of the people affected were women under 55.

However, a small proportion of those shot were affected by the case, and after an investigation, the European drug regulator ruled that the benefits outweighed the risks. may have the vaccine, and recommended resumption of vaccinations.

Some countries, such as Germany, France and Italy, started vaccinating again with a AstraZeneca bullet on Friday, with a further warning that it could be linked to bleeding. The French health care authority, which filed three cases of vaccine-related CVST, advised the government on Friday just to give the picture to people over 55.

Others, including Norway, Sweden and Denmark, said they needed more research before they could start again. Norway recorded three cases of CVST, one of which was fatal. The country has vaccinated around 120,000 people with the picture. Finland stopped the use of AstraZeneca on Friday, after recording two cases of what the authorities called unusual bloodshed.

Pål André Holme, professor of hematology and chief physician of the University of Oslo Hospital who oversaw a study of Norwegian cases, said his team had identified an antibody created by the vaccine that adversely affected it.

“Nothing but the vaccine can explain why these people had this immune response,” he said. Holme.

The Norwegian health authority took the decisions when it was announced that it would not start vaccination.

A team of German researchers around Andreas Greinacher, professor of referral medicine at the University of Greifswald Clinic, said they had independently reached the same conclusion as Professor Holme in a statement and conference Friday news.

In Germany, 13 cases of CVST were found among about 1.6 million people who received the AstraZeneca vaccine. Twelve patients were women and three died.

German researchers, who were coordinating with colleagues in Austria, Ireland and Britain, said in a statement that patients who show symptoms four days after vaccination, such as a headache, could collapse. or faint vision, be quickly diagnosed with a blood test. Dr. said. Greinacher said the news meant people should not be afraid of the vaccine.

“Very few people will develop this problem,” said Dr. Greinacher in a press conference Friday. “But if it happens we now know how to treat the patients.”

The German government said it was examining the findings, but maintained its decision to restart the AstraZeneca vaccine.

The German or Norwegian results were not published or peer-reviewed. Dr. said. Greinacher that he had submitted his findings for publication to the British medical journal The Lancet.

The German Society for the Research of Thrombosis and Hemostasis reviewed the work of Professor Greinacher and issued a statement Friday advising physicians on how to diagnose and treat the condition. it would appear in vaccine recipients.

Dr. Robert Klamroth, vice-chairman of the Society for the Research of Thrombosis and Hemostasis, said that the autoimmune reaction occurred more frequently in Germany because the country only allowed the vaccine to people younger than 64 .Britain, which had fewer incidents but vaccinated many more people, mostly giving the bullet to old recipients.

Once diagnosed, the condition should be treated with a blood thinning medication and immunoglobulin, which targets the antibody that is causing the problem.

“We believe that the most common idea is that this particular vaccine causes a rare autoimmune reaction that stimulates antibodies, which then interact with the plates, but we don’t know why. this is happening, ”said Dr Klamroth.

Write to Bojan Pancevski at [email protected]