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Published in: International Journal of Hematology 6/2023

28-09-2023 | Aplastic Anemia | Review Article

New-onset aplastic anemia after SARS-CoV-2 vaccination

Authors: Elena Chatzikalil, Antonis Kattamis, Panagiotis Diamantopoulos, Elena E. Solomou

Published in: International Journal of Hematology | Issue 6/2023

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Abstract

Aplastic anemia (AA) is a rare autoimmune disease. Drugs, viruses, and radiation are among the most common etiologic factors, and most cases have immune pathophysiology. SARS-CoV-2 vaccines have been linked with rare side effects, including cases of acquired aplastic anemia. Here we review all the reported cases of new-onset AA after SARS-CoV-2 vaccination, and discuss their clinical characteristics and management. 18 patients in these case reports had a median age of 58 years. The time from vaccination to onset of aplastic anemia ranged from 1 day to 7 months, with a median of 2.5 weeks. Seventeen patients were diagnosed with severe or very severe aplastic anemia post-vaccination and all patients received standard treatments for acquired aplastic anemia. Seventeen patients achieved a complete or partial response and only 1 patient died. Aplastic anemia can be considered a very rare SARS-CoV-2 vaccine-related adverse event, although a causative relationship has not been proven. Reporting cases of such uncommon post-vaccination events could help clinicians to consider aplastic anemia when pancytopenia is observed after vaccination. The benefits of SARS-Cov-2 vaccination are established, and reports of rare events serve only to increase awareness in daily clinical practice.
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Metadata
Title
New-onset aplastic anemia after SARS-CoV-2 vaccination
Authors
Elena Chatzikalil
Antonis Kattamis
Panagiotis Diamantopoulos
Elena E. Solomou
Publication date
28-09-2023
Publisher
Springer Nature Singapore
Published in
International Journal of Hematology / Issue 6/2023
Print ISSN: 0925-5710
Electronic ISSN: 1865-3774
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s12185-023-03666-z

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