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Case report
Post-COVID-19 vaccination occurrence of splenic infarction due to arterial thrombosis
  1. Alexander Anderson1,
  2. Mary Seddon2,
  3. Khalid Shahzad2 and
  4. Raimundas Lunevicius2
  1. 1School of Medicine, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK
  2. 2Department of General Surgery, Liverpool University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Liverpool, UK
  1. Correspondence to Raimundas Lunevicius; raimundas.lunevicius{at}liverpoolft.nhs.uk

Abstract

We present the case of an 82-year-old woman admitted to a regional emergency general surgery centre with severe left upper quadrant abdominal pain and tenderness within 21 days of receiving the first dose of the ChAdOx1 nCov-19 vaccine (Vaxzevria, AstraZeneca). Following further investigation through CT imaging, a thrombus was discovered in the patient’s splenic artery resulting in a large splenic infarct. Splenic infarcts are rare and it is important to note the association between time of administration of the first dose of vaccine and the occurrence of thromboembolic complications in the noted absence of other risk factors for this condition. We hypothesise a link between Vaxzevria vaccine injection and a rare form of thromboembolic complication: thrombosis of the splenic artery.

  • vaccination/immunisation
  • general surgery
  • unwanted effects / adverse reactions

This article is made freely available for use in accordance with BMJ’s website terms and conditions for the duration of the covid-19 pandemic or until otherwise determined by BMJ. You may use, download and print the article for any lawful, non-commercial purpose (including text and data mining) provided that all copyright notices and trade marks are retained.

https://bmj.com/coronavirus/usage

https://doi.org/10.1136/bcr-2021-243846

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    Footnotes

    • Twitter @RayLunevicius

    • Contributors AA reviewed the literature, wrote the draft and contributed to subsequent revisions of the manuscript. MS wrote part of the paper. KS revised the first version of the manuscript. RL hypothesised a link between vaccination and splenic artery thrombosis, conceived the paper, wrote a draft and contributed to subsequent revisions of the manuscript.

    • Funding The authors have not declared a specific grant for this research from any funding agency in the public, commercial or not-for-profit sectors.

    • Case reports provide a valuable learning resource for the scientific community and can indicate areas of interest for future research. They should not be used in isolation to guide treatment choices or public health policy.

    • Competing interests None declared.

    • Provenance and peer review Not commissioned; externally peer reviewed.