Guillain-Barré syndrome following immunisation with Haemophilus influenzae type b conjugate vaccine

• Published in: European journal of pediatrics Vol. 152; no. 7; pp. 613 - 614
• Main Authors: GERVAIX, A, CAFLISCH, M, SUTER, S, HAENGGELI, C.-A
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Heidelberg Springer 01-07-1993; Berlin
• Subjects: Bacterial Vaccines - administration & dosage; Bacterial Vaccines - adverse effects; Biological and medical sciences; Child, Preschool; Diphtheria Toxoid - administration & dosage; Diphtheria Toxoid - adverse effects; Female; Haemophilus Infections - microbiology; Haemophilus Infections - prevention & control; Haemophilus influenzae; Haemophilus Vaccines; Humans; Immunoglobulin M - blood; Medical sciences; Multiple sclerosis and variants. Guillain barré syndrome and other inflammatory polyneuropathies. Leukoencephalitis; Neurology; Polyradiculoneuropathy - blood; Polyradiculoneuropathy - cerebrospinal fluid; Polyradiculoneuropathy - etiology; Human; Pasteurellaceae; Case study; Nervous system diseases; Toxicity; Bacteria; Vaccine; Child; Haemophilus influenzae; Guillain Barré syndrome
• ISSN: 0340-6199; 1432-1076
• DOI: 10.1007/BF01954093

The Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) is an immune-mediated disease often associated with viral or bacterial infections and with immunisation. IgM antibodies have been implicated as the main trigger event in GBS. So far, only four cases of GBS have been observed following immunisation with a conjugate vaccine against Haemophilus influenzae type b. We report another patient with GBS after this vaccination. We measured immunoglobulins against the H. influenzae type b polysaccharide (PRP) component of the vaccine. Surprisingly the anti-PRP IgM antibody level was markedly elevated (100 micrograms/ml) in the plasma of this patient. We speculate that an excessive anti-PRP IgM antibody response to the vaccine might be the cause of GBS.