Researchers at McMaster University in Canada have discovered a new rare blood-clotting disorder. Their findings were published in the New England Journal of Medicine.
The disease is called monoclonal gammopathy of thrombotic significance. It was found after several patients in Canada experienced unusual blood clots, even though they were receiving proper doses of blood thinners.
Doctors found that these patients had antibodies similar to those seen in rare blood-clotting cases linked to the COVID-19 vaccine — but none of them had received such a vaccine.
Some patients improved after receiving special treatments, including intravenous immunoglobulin, ibrutinib, and plasma cell–targeted myeloma therapy.
Experts say this discovery is important for cases where regular blood thinners don’t work and the cause is hard to diagnose. Now, doctors can identify the condition and provide better treatment.
