Chronic arthritis after rubella vaccination.
In August 1991 the Institute of Medicine released a report entitled "Adverse Effects of Pertussis and Rubella Vaccines" that examined, among other relations, the relation between immunization with the RA 27/3 rubella vaccine strain and chronic arthritis. The committee spent 20 months reviewing a wide range of information sources including case series and individual case reports published in peer-reviewed journals and reported by vaccine manufacturers; unpublished case reports from physicians, parents, and other concerned persons; epidemiological studies; and laboratory studies. There were no animal studies available. The committee found that the evidence is consistent with a causal relation between the RA 27/3 rubella vaccine strain and chronic arthritis in adult women, although the evidence is limited in scope. Proving that rubella vaccination can cause chronic arthritis will require a better understanding of pathogenetic mechanisms and additional well-designed studies. We briefly describe the committee's evaluative methods and present the evidence underlying its conclusion.
Howson
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CP
Division of International Health, Institute of Medicine, Washington, D.C. 20418.
Katz
M
M
Johnston
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RB
Fineberg
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HV
D000328:Adult; D001168:Arthritis / Q000209:etiology*; D015984:Causality; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004812:Epidemiologic Methods; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015969:National Academies of Science, Engineering, and Medicine, U.S., Health and Medicine Division; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012411:Rubella Vaccine / Q000009:adverse effects*; D014481:United States
D012411:Rubella Vaccine