COVID-19 Vaccines in Patients with Antiphospholipid Antibodies

December 28, 2021

102 patients at the Center of Research for Immunopathology and Rare Diseases in Turin, Italy, were surveyed to better understand the safety of COVID-19 vaccines in patients with antiphospholipid antibodies. These autoantibodies increase the risk of blood clotting, which is also a verified albeit rare adverse event to vaccination with some COVID-19 vaccines. Within the survey, 67 patients received Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine and 35 received the Moderna vaccine; 89 patients received two doses associated with a primary series. 14 patients had antiphospholipid syndrome associated with SLE.

Immunogenecity data from the survey showed that mRNA COVID-19 vaccines “seem to have an acceptable safety and tolerability profile in patients with antiphospholipid antibodies. No major adverse effects nor thrombotic events were reported. Side-effects seem frequent, but mild and transient in nature.” 78 of 102 patients had at least one side-effect, which included fatigue, headache, and pain at the injected site. No new thrombotic events were reported.