Acute transverse myelitis and acute motor axonal neuropathy developed after vaccinations against seasonal and 2009 A/H1N1 influenza

Intern Med. 2011;50(5):503-7. doi: 10.2169/internalmedicine.50.4340. Epub 2011 Mar 1.

Abstract

Acute transverse myelitis (ATM) has been described as an uncommon complication of vaccinations and is rarely accompanied by inflammatory peripheral neuropathy. We report a case of a 77-year-old woman who developed ATM and acute motor axonal neuropathy (AMAN) following vaccinations against seasonal and 2009 A/H1N1 influenza. She manifested ophthalmoplegia, quadriparesis and sensory impairment. MR imaging showed a longitudinally-extensive spinal cord lesion, and nerve conduction study revealed motor axonal polyneuropathy. Despite prompt treatment, her symptoms poorly recovered. While concurrent ATM and AMAN may suggest the presence of a common antigen, their scarcity indicates the importance of other factors causing immunologic disruptions.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Axons / immunology
  • Diagnosis, Differential
  • Female
  • Guillain-Barre Syndrome / diagnosis
  • Guillain-Barre Syndrome / etiology
  • Guillain-Barre Syndrome / immunology
  • Humans
  • Influenza A Virus, H1N1 Subtype / immunology*
  • Influenza Vaccines / adverse effects*
  • Influenza Vaccines / immunology*
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging
  • Motor Neuron Disease / diagnosis
  • Motor Neuron Disease / etiology
  • Motor Neuron Disease / immunology
  • Motor Neurons / immunology
  • Myelitis, Transverse / diagnosis
  • Myelitis, Transverse / etiology*
  • Myelitis, Transverse / immunology
  • Polyneuropathies / diagnosis
  • Polyneuropathies / etiology*
  • Polyneuropathies / immunology
  • Vaccination / adverse effects*

Substances

  • Influenza Vaccines