Review [+ Case Report] [POT] With [CF] After HPV Vaccination as Part of the “Autoimmune/Auto-inflammatory Syndrome Induced by Adjuvants”, 2014, Tomljenovic+

[Yann04]

Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia With Chronic Fatigue After HPV Vaccination as Part of the “Autoimmune/Auto-inflammatory Syndrome Induced by Adjuvants”

Spoiler: Authors

Tomljenovic, Lucija; Colafrancesco, Serena; Perricone, Carlo; Shoenfeld, Yehuda

Abstract
We report the case of a 14-year-old girl who developed postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS) with chronic fatigue 2 months following Gardasil vaccination. The patient suffered from persistent headaches, dizziness, recurrent syncope, poor motor coordination, weakness, fatigue, myalgias, numbness, tachycardia, dyspnea, visual disturbances, phonophobia, cognitive impairment, insomnia, gastrointestinal disturbances, and a weight loss of 20 pounds. The psychiatric evaluation ruled out the possibility that her symptoms were psychogenic or related to anxiety disorders. Furthermore, the patient tested positive for ANA (1:1280), lupus anticoagulant, and antiphospholipid. On clinical examination she presented livedo reticularis and was diagnosed with Raynaud’s syndrome. This case fulfills the criteria for the autoimmune/auto-inflammatory syndrome induced by adjuvants (ASIA). Because human papillomavirus vaccination is universally recommended to teenagers and because POTS frequently results in long-term disabilities (as was the case in our patient), a thorough follow-up of patients who present with relevant complaints after vaccination is strongly recommended.

Web | DOI | PMC | PDF | Journal of Investigative Medicine High Impact Case Reports

 

[Yann04]

I know this is old, but I‘m wondering if this kind of thing could be why some people report „complex chronic illness“ following COVID vaccine.

(Of course its really hard to tell what seems genuine or what seems a couple anecdotes pushed out of proportion given the politics around vaccines today).

 

[Jonathan Edwards]

This patient appears to have lupus. Presumably lupus sometimes starts 2 months after a vaccine, especially if everyone is being vaccinated.

 

[Holinger]

I had the worst crash ever 5 days after my 3rd Pfizer covid vaccine. This could be intriguing if anyone could ever work out a mechanism from this that fits into that timeframe.

 

[shak8]

Is the timing of the development of lupus, that of two months post HPV vaccination--does that make clinical sense if implicating the vaccination as causative?

There's always the possibility that she developed lupus and the history of being vaccinated has no relevance. What is the background rate of lupus incidence and what is the background rate of lupus incidence w/HPV vaccination?

Of particular note: one author gives expert testimony for vaccine injury cases in the courts and another is from the Dwoskin Family Foundation, a pseudo-science anti-vaccine group (see Wikipedia: Children's Medical Safety Research Institute).

 

[Jonathan Edwards]

Is the timing of the development of lupus, that of two months post HPV vaccination--does that make clinical sense if implicating the vaccination as causative?

It does not make any particular scientific sense. Lupus occurs regularly in any population. It is not that common but there will be nearly a new case a day in a big metropolis, certainly one a week. Without a prospective survey a case like this means nothing.

 

[hotblack]

It’s an interesting thought, I’ve always thought adjuvants were pretty benign. As mentioned before I had terrible reactions to both AZ and Pfizr covid vaccines. I’d presumed something interesting about the spike proteins and my body, but maybe there’s some weird immune overreaction to adjuvants in some people, particularly those of us with ME/CFS or similar? Do all the covid vaccines have adjuvants though?

I’ve never had any problems with any other vaccines in my life, and had loads, through the normal ones growing up then through travel as an adult. No idea if they had adjuvants. And since having ME/CFS, while my GP practice still gave them to me, the flu vaccines (non adjuvant) were fine.

 

[Jonathan Edwards]

This patient appears to have lupus. Presumably lupus sometimes starts 2 months after a vaccine, especially if everyone is being vaccinated.

Just to be clear, the intended meaning was:
Presumably lupus sometimes starts 2 months after a vaccine, as a complete coincidence, especially if everyone is being vaccinated.

 

[Amw66]

POTs has been a consequence of early versions of HPV vaccinations for a small number of people . I've known of Scottish kids who developed POTS ( one of whom met ME/ CFS criteria , but has since improved over 5 years ) during the initial vaccination campaign for teenage girls.

Tymes Trust were involved as FII ensued and may well have an idea re prevalence. There was an " action group" formed which did much to raise awareness.

The Gardisil vaccine I believe was modified after initial roll out .

The success of this vaccine cannot be doubted- there was a recent news article highlighting no new cases of cervical cancer in Australia recently.
We must not forget however that for a small number of people , side effects can be life changing .

 

[hotblack]

We must not forget however that for a small number of people , side effects can be life changing .

Yeah, acknowledging and understanding the rare reactions better (as well as increasing understanding of coincidences as @Jonathan Edwards has highlighted) would seem a sensible approach I think.

Having significant changes in health and quality of life just dismissed doesn’t help anyone and only feeds the conspiracy theories, but sadly does seem to happen. I found the lack of curiosity and just being repeatedly told ‘the vaccine are safe’ extremely unhelpful.

 

[Yann04]

Of particular note: one author gives expert testimony for vaccine injury cases in the courts and another is from the Dwoskin Family Foundation, a pseudo-science anti-vaccine group (see Wikipedia: Children's Medical Safety Research Institute).

Good catch