Influenza may trigger Guillain-Barre syndrome

[Exodia]

Influenza may trigger Guillain-Barre syndrome

Thu Jan 29, 2009 1:01am IST

NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Influenza infection can occasionally precipitate the occurrence of Guillain-Barre syndrome, French researchers report in the journal Clinical Infectious Diseases.

Guillain-Barre syndrome is an inflammatory disease affecting the peripheral nerves, with symptoms of weakness, numbness or tingling in the arms and legs. Loss of movement and feeling in the arms, legs, upper body, and face may also occur.

The condition "is usually triggered by infectious disease or vaccine," senior investigator Dr. Elyanne Gault told Reuters Health. "To date, influenza was associated with Guillain-Barre syndrome through vaccination, based on the report of a high number of Guillain-Barre syndrome cases during a mass vaccination campaign against swine influenza in the US."

The current study reports "virological evidence that influenza infection is a trigger for Guillain-Barre syndrome, with a frequency related to the level of influenza epidemics," she explained.

Gault of Hopital Ambroise Pare, Boulogne-Billancourt, and colleagues studied data on 406 Guillain-Barre syndrome patients. The causative agent was unidentified in 234 patients.

The researchers investigated the monthly incidence of Guillain-Barre syndrome cases and the incidence of influenza-like illnesses, and also analyzed anti-influenza antibodies.

In all, 73 Guillain-Barre syndrome cases were positively link to influenza. Nearly 14 percent had serological evidence of recent influenza A infection and 5.5 percent had evidence of influenza B infection. Eight of the 10 influenza A cases occurred during a major influenza season and antibodies specific to the current epidemic strain were seen in 9 of these patients.

Gault concluded, "Although the occurrence is rare, it is by far more frequent than that following influenza vaccine...The benefit of large-scale influenza vaccination should also be considered as a means to protect against Guillain-Barre syndrome."

SOURCE: Clinical Infectious Diseases, January 1, 2009.

http://in.reuters.com/article/health/idINTRE50R6IK20090128

[SarahS]

Older news... the swine flu vax was linked to GBS in 1976-77.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15562126

Guillain-Barré syndrome following influenza vaccination.Haber P, DeStefano F, Angulo FJ, Iskander J, Shadomy SV, Weintraub E, Chen RT.
Immunization Safety Branch, Epidemiology and Surveillance Division, National Immunization Program, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Ga 30333, USA. PHaber@cdc.gov

CONTEXT: An unexplained increase in the risk of Guillain-Barre syndrome (GBS) occurred among recipients of the swine influenza vaccine in 1976-1977. Guillain-Barre syndrome remains the most frequent neurological condition reported after influenza vaccination to the Vaccine Adverse Events Reporting System (VAERS) since its inception in 1990. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate trends of reports to VAERS of GBS following influenza vaccination in adults. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: VAERS is the US national spontaneous reporting system for adverse events following vaccination. Reports of GBS in persons 18 years or older following influenza vaccination were evaluated for each influenza season from July 1, 1990, through June 30, 2003. The number of people vaccinated was estimated from the National Health Interview Survey and US census data. Beginning in 1994, active follow-up was conducted to verify GBS diagnosis and obtain other clinical details. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: Reporting rates of GBS following influenza vaccination over time. RESULTS: From July 1990 through June 2003, VAERS received 501 reports of GBS following influenza vaccination in adults. The median onset interval (13 days) was longer than that of non-GBS reports of adverse events after influenza vaccine (1 day) (P<.001). The annual reporting rate decreased 4-fold from a high of 0.17 per 100,000 vaccinees in 1993-1994 to 0.04 in 2002-2003 (P<.001). A GBS diagnosis was confirmed in 82% of reports. Preceding illness within 4 weeks of vaccination was identified in 24% of reported cases. CONCLUSIONS: From 1990 to 2003, VAERS reporting rates of GBS after influenza vaccination decreased. The long onset interval and low prevalence of other preexisting illnesses are consistent with a possible causal association between GBS and influenza vaccine. These findings require additional research, which can lead to a fuller understanding of the causes of GBS and its possible relationship with influenza vaccine.

PMID: 15562126 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

[Auburn Boy]

Influenza has many times been noted to be involved with other neurological symptoms as well.

Parkinsons, stroke, encephalitis..,

[Teal]

They knew this in 1918, though they didn't have a name for it.

It's pretty common (and the others that AB mentioned) after the vaccine, too, though the article plays that down.

[Exodia]

They knew this in 1918, though they didn't have a name for it.

It's pretty common (and the others that AB mentioned) after the vaccine, too, though the article plays that down.Yes, I recall reding in Barry's book about the neurological complications that many suvivors faced. Nasty stuff.