A thrombus is a blood clot that forms in a vessel
The biggest risk you have is that it obstructs blood flow
Janssen thromboses have arisen in the cerebral venous sinuses
The AstraZeneca vaccine already includes thrombosis as a very rare side effect. In addition, everything seems to indicate that the same will happen with Janssen . Thus, it is essential to know what these thromboses are and, above all, to know what their warning symptoms are and their treatment, even though it is known that their incidence is very low.
What is a thrombosis
The Spanish Heart Foundation explains that a thrombus is a blood clot that forms in a blood vessel and remains there. An embolism, on the other hand, is a clot that travels from the site where it formed to another place in the body. The thrombus or embolism can occur in a vessel and obstruct the blood flow there, preventing the supply of oxygen and blood flow to the surrounding tissues. This can cause damage, destruction (heart attack), and even death or necrosis of the tissues in that area. Obviously, depending on where this obstruction occurs, the thrombosis or embolism will be more or less dangerous to compromise the life of the patient and its consequences if he survives.
What thrombosis have the AstraZeneca and Janssen venous sinus vaccines recorded
The Spanish Medicines Agency has included the new symptoms linked to the most serious side effects and thrombi of AstraZeneca. Specifically, it points out that after administration of Vaxzevria (the AstraZeneca vaccine), thrombosis in combination with thrombopenia, such as cerebral venous sinus thrombosis, splanchnic vein thrombosis (abdomen) and arterial thrombosis , can occur very rarely .
Regarding the Janssen vaccine, the six cases of thrombosis that have arisen in vaccinated people have all been registered in the cerebral venous sinuses , which are venous spaces that drain blood from the brain and the bones of the skull.
What warning symptoms should those vaccinated with AstraZeneca and Janssen have?
These side effects have a very low incidence, however, the European Medicines Agency has appealed to healthcare personnel and vaccinated people to be alert to a series of symptoms that could indicate thrombosis during the 14 days after receiving the vaccine. These indications are:
1. Difficulty breathing
2. Chest pain
3. Swelling in the leg
4. Persistent abdominal pain
5. Neurological symptoms, including severe and persistent headaches or blurred vision
6. Small spots of blood under the skin beyond the injection site
** Note: in the specific case of warning symptoms in venous sinus thrombosis, the Spanish Society of Neurology explains that the most frequent symptom is headache . But in addition, in the vast majority of patients, this headache is accompanied by other symptoms similar to those of a stroke , such as: focal deficits, loss of strength or sustained sensitivity, impaired gait or impaired language or speech , confusional episodes, loss of vision.
How thrombosis is treated in vaccinated with AstraZeneca and Janssen
One of the explanations that has generated the most consensus regarding thromboses arising in AstraZeneca and Janssen vaccinates is the one presented by a group of German researchers from the University of Greifswald. Their work has shown that these thromboembolic events resemble a known disorder, heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (HIT).
Thus, his thesis is that the vaccine would induce a rare autoimmune reaction by which antibodies are generated against platelets, which would cause a powerful coagulant stimulus. The FDA has not yet explained the reason for these possible adverse reactions. However, in a statement they have stated that the treatment of this specific type of blood clot should not be with heparin . "An anticoagulant drug called heparin is usually used to treat blood clots. In this setting, giving heparin can be dangerous and alternative treatments are needed."
In this way, Beverley Hunt, professor of thrombosis and hemostasis at King's College London and representative of Thrombosis UK, told The Guradian that the first step would be to administer a dose of intravenous gamma globulin , to block the effect of antibodies that could be causing the clotting problems. Once the patient is stable, they continue to be given anticoagulant agents, but not heparins.
