AofA Science Summary: Reversible blindness in bilateral optic neuritis associated with nasal flu vaccine.
Binocul Vis Strabolog Q Simms Romano. 2012;27(3):171-3.
Crawford C, Grazko MB, Raymond WR 4th, Rivers BA, Munson PD.
Abstract BACKGROUND:Various case reports have shown possible associations between optic neuritis and different vaccines. Some of the vaccines include influenza, hepatitis B and anthrax
PURPOSE:To present evidence for a causal relationship between optic neuritis and Live Attenuated Influenza Vaccine (LAIV), administered as nasal flu vaccine.
METHODS:Case Report. In a 13-year-old male with bilateral optic neuritis, detailed clinical history, neuro-ophthalmologic examination, magnetic resonance imaging, stereo-disc photos, visual field testing, ocular coherence tomography, blood tests and cerebral spinal fluid analysis were performed.
RESULTS:Exam findings on presentation: BCVA: 20/CF OD; 20/LP OS. Positive relative afferent pupil defect OD. Unremarkable anterior segment and posterior segment exam. No papillitis or papilledema. Global visual field defect OU based on Humphrey 30-2. MRI: diffuse enlargement of Optic Chiasm with inflammation of distal optic nerves bilateral. Blood cultures and CSF were negative. Patient received 3 divided doses of methyl prednisone with mild improvement of vision upon hospital discharge and marked improvement of vision at 2 month follow up.
CONCLUSION:In this child, no infectious, vascular, granulomatous, viral or immune-related cause of optic neuritis was identified. This case provides compelling evidence that supports the nasal flu vaccination as a cause of optic neuritis.
PMID:
My healthy 8 yr old son got ADEM which caused optic neuritis. His eyes were affected within five hours after the flu vaccination. Doctors are advising no more flu shots for him. He was treated with steroids and they are hopefully that his sight will return. They say it could also be linked to a virus he had 14 days earlier. Does anyone know how quickly ADEM then the vision problem can happen? It just so happens he got his eyes tested at school a few hours after the flu shot and failed the test. Unfortunately the school did not notify me and it was almost 10 days later until we realized something serious was going on with his vision.
Posted by: Rosezella | October 13, 2012 at 04:23 PM
This one talks about adults with bilateral optic neuritis, "no aetiology was found" But what I see is the comment "pain on eye movement." Maybe the most painful orientation is when the eyes are looking straight ahead? i.e. making eye contact?
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1857074/
Thankyou for posting this science, I like that it has a solution listed that appears to offer a benefit.
Posted by: Jenny | September 27, 2012 at 06:52 AM
My sister-in-law has among other things Ocular myasthenia gravis.
She has two twins with autism, one son with bipolar
Ocular myasthenia gravis (MG) is a disease of the neuromuscular junction resulting in hallmark variability in muscle weakness and fatigability. MG is an autoimmune disease where anomalous antibodies are produced against the naturally occurring acetylcholine receptors in voluntary muscles. MG may be limited to the muscles of the eye (ocular MG), leading to abrupt onset of weakness/fatigability of the eyelids or eye movement. MG may also involve other muscle groups.
If you go to the Kawasaki's website a lot of parents are complaining of eye dropping, and eye movement problems.
Eyes require more energy than anything in the body.
Myasthenia Gravis begins in the thymus.
"Myasthenia Gravis and the Thymus Gland"
"Although the thymus gland is abnormal in adults with myasthenia, research scientists do not fully understand the relationship between myasthenia gravis and the thymus gland. However, some research scientists believe that the thymus gland may give incorrect instructions to developing immune cells, which results in autoimmunity and then leads to myasthenia gravis."
The hypothalmus rules the pituitary -- if the pituitary is removed the thymus will shrink, if the thymus is removed the thyroid develops nodules and becomes sick.
Posted by: Benedetta | September 26, 2012 at 07:03 PM
Post-vaccination encephalomyelitis: literature review and illustrative case.
Abstract
Acute disseminated encephalomyelitis (ADEM) is an inflammatory demyelinating disease of the central nervous system that is usually considered a monophasic disease. ADEM forms one of several categories of primary inflammatory demyelinating disorders of the central nervous system including multiple sclerosis, optic neuropathy, acute transverse myelitis, and neuromyelitis optica (Devic's disease). Post-infectious and post-immunisation encephalomyelitis make up about three-quarters of cases, where the timing of a febrile event is associated with the onset of neurological disease. Post-vaccination ADEM has been associated with several vaccines such as rabies, diphtheria-tetanus-polio, smallpox, measles, mumps, rubella, Japanese B encephalitis, pertussis, influenza, hepatitis B, and the Hog vaccine. We review ADEM with particular emphasis on vaccination as the precipitating factor. We performed a literature search using Medline (1976-2007) with search terms including "ADEM", "acute disseminated encephalomyelitis", "encephalomyelitis", "vaccination", and "immunisation". A patient presenting with bilateral optic neuropathies within 3 weeks of "inactivated" influenza vaccination followed by delayed onset of ADEM 3 months post-vaccination is described.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18976924
This one is related.
Acute disseminated encephalomyelitis as the first presentation of CNS tuberculosis: report of a case with brief review
Abstract
Acute disseminated encephalomyelitis (ADEM) also known as post infectious encephalomyelitis is a demyelinating disease of the central nervous system (CNS) that typically presents as a monophasic disorder associated with multifocal neurological symptoms and disability. It may follow vaccination in children or infection. Viral infection like measles, rubella, influenza, Epstein bar, HIV, herpes, cytomegalusvirus (CMV) and West Nile virus have been implicated in the causation. Among bacteria, group A hemolytic streptococcus, mycoplasma pneumonia, Chlamydia, Rickettesia and leptospira have been shown to cause ADEM. There are few reports of ADEM due to tuberculosis (TB). We describe acute disseminated encephalomyelitis due to tuberculosis in a 35 year old female who initially started with neuropsychiatric manifestations and later developed florid neurological deficit and classical magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) lesions suggestive of the disease. The patient recovered completely after antitubercular therapy and is following our clinic for the last 12 months now.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2996057/?tool=pubmed
Posted by: Visitor | September 26, 2012 at 05:03 PM
I know that Bonnie Dunbar, then a professor at Baylor and herself a vaccine developer, testified that a medical student in her lab developed optic neuritis after a hep B shot.
Dr. Marc Girard, commissioned by the French court to investigate cases of multiple sclerosis and death after the mass hep B vaccination campaign in France in 1994, co-authored the paper "Multiple sclerosis and hepatitis B vaccination: Adding the credibility of molecular biology to an unusual level of clinical and epidemiological evidence": http://vran.org/legacy/docs/girardhepbvax.pdf
I didn't know about the nasal flu vaccine.
Posted by: Carol | September 26, 2012 at 11:21 AM
Becky, search for Dr. Terry Wahls video: Minding Your Mitochondria. It details how, primarily through dietary changes, she recovered herself from MS.
Posted by: Shawn Siegel | September 26, 2012 at 10:38 AM
I had an article (misplaced now) stating an increase in optic neuritis post anthrax vaccine (I am ex-military).
My ON was followed by ms diagnosis. I got shot up with everything under the sun while in the AF, including five anthrax shots, yearly JE, regular Hep B, and yearly flu shot. Once I got the anthrax shot and the flu shot together.
Posted by: Becky | September 26, 2012 at 09:21 AM