BREAKING COVID-19 News! Scientists Warn That SARS-CoV-2 Infections And COVID-19 Vaccines Can Cause Aplastic Anaemia!
Nikhil Prasad Fact checked by:Thailand Medical News Team Nov 11, 2023 5 months, 2 weeks, 2 days, 10 hours, 38 minutes ago
COVID-19 News: Since the onset of the global COVID-19 pandemic, scientific communities worldwide have been investigating various facets of the disease, leading to a multitude of revelations and discoveries. One emerging concern that has garnered attention is the potential link between SARS-CoV-2 infections and aplastic anaemia (AA). This rare, life-threatening disorder, characterized by bone marrow failure, has been reported in individuals following COVID-19 or its vaccination in different regions, including Japan, South Korea, Italy, China, Taiwan, the United Kingdom, and the United States.
There are more than 127 published case studies and
COVID-19 News reports covering these to date.
https://ashpublications.org/bloodadvances/article/6/13/3840/485039/SARS-CoV-2-infection-associated-with-aplastic
https://www.fortunejournals.com/articles/severe-aplastic-anemia-secondary-to-sars-cov2-infection-a-case-report.html
https://www.sciepub.com/AJMCR/abstract/13387
https://pesquisa.bvsalud.org/global-literature-on-novel-coronavirus-2019-ncov/resource/pt/covidwho-2175126
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/ejh.13788
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0896841121001906
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2214250923001506
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/jha2.443
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s12185-022-03445-2
https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/16078454.2022.2140986
https://www.thejh.org/index.php/jh/article/view/954/623
Aplastic Anaemia: A Grave Hematological Condition
Aplastic anaemia is a condition wherein the body fails to produce an adequate number of new blood cells, rendering individuals fatigued and susceptible to infections and bleeding. Stem cell damage within the bone marrow, the body's blood cell factory, is the
primary cause of this disorder. Conditions damaging these stem cells result in reduced production of red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets, posing life-threatening risks. If left untreated, aplastic anaemia has a mortality rate as high as 70% within one year. However, recent years have seen improved outcomes for patients, with an overall five-year survival rate of approximately 80% for individuals under the age of 20. Although aplastic anemia is not a type of cancer, it is sometimes associated with leukemia.
The Unprecedented Case in Changsha, China
In a groundbreaking development, researchers from various institutions in Changsha, China, present the case of a 14-year-old female patient who developed AA following a SARS-CoV-2 infection. The study conducted an epidemiological assessment of blood system diseases' incidence rates from July 1, 2022, to May 31, 2023, in the haematology department of the Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University and Hunan Children's Hospital.
Results revealed an increased detection rate of AA and leukaemia in the first two months after the epidemic outbreak, with statistical significance observed only in leukaemia cases. This underscores the urgency of understanding the potential hematological consequences of COVID-19.
Case Presentation and Epidemiological Analysis
The patient, a previously healthy 14-year-old female, received two doses of the inactivated SARS-CoV-2 vaccine in August and September 2021. Following infection with the Omicron variant in December 2022, she experienced a high fever and tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 via PCR. Subsequently, she developed pancytopenia, leading to hospitalization in January 2023.
Laboratory analyses revealed a severe decline in blood cell counts, meeting the criteria for acquired AA. Despite an extensive workup ruling out other causes, including malignancy and infections, the definitive cause remained elusive. The patient's blood cells and plasma tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 nucleic acid even after three months of infection.
A bone marrow transplant from her father on April 1, 2023, resulted in remission with a positive haematologic response at the time of reporting. This case, with a short time span between PCR positivity and blood cell decline, aligns with infectious disease data suggesting SARS-CoV-2-mediated immune-mediated bone marrow failure.
Discussion and Potential Mechanisms
The study discusses potential mechanisms linking COVID-19 and AA, including the excessive production of inflammatory cytokines, cytokine storms, direct cytotoxicity of the virus, abnormal hematopoiesis, aberrant immune response, myelosuppressive effects, and direct infiltration of the virus into the bone marrow. The lack of cytokine studies or viral PCR analysis in bone marrow aspirates underscores the need for further investigations to elucidate these associations in large cohorts.
Conclusion
This groundbreaking study from Changsha, China, highlights the pressing need to understand the potential links between SARS-CoV-2 infections and aplastic anaemia. The observed increase in detection rates of AA and leukaemia during the initial months of the epidemic suggests a possible connection, urging the scientific community to delve deeper into the hematological consequences of COVID-19. As the global effort to combat the pandemic continues, such research becomes crucial in comprehending the full spectrum of COVID-19-related complications and guiding future preventive measures and treatments.
The study findings were published in the peer reviewed journal: Frontiers in Pediatrics.
https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fped.2023.1277540/full
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