Peripheral neuropathy after administration of tetanus toxoid

A reversible paresis of several muscles of the right arm was observed in a 20-year-old female, 3 weeks after the intragluteal injection of tetanus toxoid and 6--7 weeks after multiple injuries. The EMG findings indicated a transitory conduction block of nerve fibers to the deltoid and pectoralis muscles and a more severe axonal-demyelinating lesion of fibers to the biceps muscle. The cause of the palsy was probably a reaction to the administration of tetanus toxoid; other possible causes are discussed.