AstraZeneca blood clotting syndrome now “very treatable”

A strong screening system and advanced treatment have proved that the syndrome, known as thrombosis with thrombocytopenia syndrome (TTS) or Vaccine-induced thrombotic Thrombocytopenia (VITT) is far less deadly than first thought.

Alfred Health Head of Thrombosis and Haemostas Professor Huyen Tran said experts have developed a much stronger understanding of the syndrome, which now has a much lower mortality rate than the 25 per cent first reported.

“It’s always the case that new conditions have a higher mortality rates at first; but the true mortality rate ends up being much lower,” Professor Tran said.

“We understand this condition has a very different mechanism to all other forms of blood clots. Not understanding this difference in the past may have led to confusion and hesitancy to get vaccinated.

“We’re now in an extremely strong position to recognise it, diagnose it and most importantly, treat it well.”

Professor Tran said blood thinning medication is a mainstay in treating TTS,  but the use of intravenous immunoglobulins in more severe cases also appears to impact on a positive outcome for the condition.

“Obviously we recognise that there is a risk there, but to put it into perspective, of all the AstraZeneca jabs given in Australia to last week, we’ve had just 31 confirmed cases three quarters are already out of hospital and recovering.

“Australians who are eligible for the AstraZeneca vaccine can rest assured that as specialists learn more and more about TTS, and successfully treat it, the easier the choice to be vaccinated should become.”