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http://archneur.ama-assn.org/cgi/content/abstract/60/4/504?etoc

 

Vaccinations and Risk of Central Nervous System Demyelinating Diseases in Adults

Frank DeStefano, MD, MPH; Thomas Verstraeten, MD; Lisa A. Jackson, MD, MPH; Catherine A. Okoro, MS; Patti Benson, MPH; Steven B. Black, MD; Henry R. Shinefield, MD; John P. Mullooly, PhD; William Likosky, MD, MA; Robert T. Chen, MD; for the Vaccine Safety Datalink Research Group
 

Arch Neurol. 2003;60:504-509.

Background  Several case reports of the onset or exacerbation of multiple sclerosis or other demyelinating conditions shortly after vaccination have suggested that vaccines may increase the risk of demyelinating diseases.

Objective  To evaluate the association between vaccination and onset of multiple sclerosis or optic neuritis.

Design  Case-control study involving cases of multiple sclerosis or optic neuritis among adults 18 to 49 years of age. Data on vaccinations and other risk factors were obtained from computerized and paper medical records and from telephone interviews.

Setting  Three health maintenance organizations.

Participants  Four hundred forty case subjects and 950 control subjects matched on health maintenance organization, sex, and date of birth.

Interventions  None.

Main Outcome Measures  Onset of first symptoms of demyelinating disease at any time after vaccination and during specified intervals after vaccination (<1 year, 1-5 years, and >5 years).

Results  Cases and controls had similar vaccination histories. The odds ratios (95% confidence intervals), adjusted for potential confounding variables, of the associations between ever having been vaccinated and risk of demyelinating disease (multiple sclerosis and optic neuritis combined) were 0.9 (0.6-1.5) for hepatitis B vaccine; 0.6 (0.4-0.8) for tetanus vaccination; 0.8 (0.6-1.2) for influenza vaccine; 0.8 (0.5-1.5) for measles, mumps, rubella vaccine; 0.9 (0.5-1.4) for measles vaccine; and 0.7 (0.4-1.0) for rubella vaccine. The results were similar when multiple sclerosis and optic neuritis were analyzed separately. There was no increased risk according to timing of vaccination.

Conclusion  Vaccination against hepatitis B, influenza, tetanus, measles, or rubella is not associated with an increased risk of multiple sclerosis or optic neuritis.


From the National Immunization Program, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Ga (Drs DeStefano, Verstraeten, and Chen and Ms Okoro); Center for Health Studies, Group Health Cooperative, Seattle, Wash (Dr Jackson and Ms Benson); Department of Epidemiology, University of Washington, Seattle (Dr Jackson); Pediatric Vaccine Study Center, Northern California Kaiser Permanente, Oakland (Drs Black and Shinefield); Center for Health Research, Northwest Kaiser Permanente, Portland, Ore (Dr Mullooly); and Departments of Neurology, University of Washington and Minor and James Medical, Seattle (Dr Likosky).

 

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Arch Neurol. 2003;60:478-480.
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