Related Experiment Videos
Guillain-Barré syndrome following administration of live measles vaccine
Insights
Guillain-Barre syndrome occurred in two infants shortly after measles vaccination. Investigations ruled out herpes virus infections as a cause in the younger child.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Immunology
- Neurology
Background:
- Guillain-Barre syndrome is a rare neurological disorder.
- Vaccination is a common trigger for Guillain-Barre syndrome in children.
- Measles vaccines are live-attenuated viral vaccines.
Purpose of the Study:
- To report two cases of Guillain-Barre syndrome following measles vaccination.
- To investigate potential infectious triggers for Guillain-Barre syndrome in vaccinated infants.
Main Methods:
- Case report of two pediatric patients.
- Review of vaccination history.
- Serological testing for measles antibodies.
- Serological testing for herpes viruses (herpes simplex, Epstein-Barr virus, cytomegalovirus, varicella-zoster).
Main Results:
- Two infants developed Guillain-Barre syndrome within one week of receiving live measles-rubella or live measles vaccine.
- Both infants showed a primary measles antibody response post-vaccination.
- The younger infant was negative for antibodies against common herpes viruses.
Conclusions:
- Live measles-containing vaccines may be associated with Guillain-Barre syndrome in infants.
- Herpes virus infections were not identified as a cause in this case.
- Further research is needed to understand the potential link between measles vaccination and Guillain-Barre syndrome.
Abstract:
In a 19 month old girl and a 10 month old girl the Guillain-Barre syndrome developed within a week after they received, respectively, live measles-rubella vaccine and live measles vaccine. The older child was immune to the rubella at the time of vaccination, but both girls demonstrated a primary measles antibody response. Serum obtained during the acute and convalescent stages from the younger child was tested for antibodies against the herpes viruses (herpes simplex, Epstein-Barr virus, cytomegalovirus and varicella-zoster) and found to be negative.