title: Fatal Guillain-Barré syndrome after the national influenza immunization program.
abstract: Fifty-eight fatal cases of Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) were reported during the 1976 to 1977 National Influenza Program: Thirty-two (58%) of these patients had received the A/New Jersey influenza vaccine. The mean interval from vaccination to onset was 3.9 weeks, and the incidence of preceding illness in vaccinated or unvaccinated patients was similar. Fifty-eight percent had at least one chronic disease before onset. The clinical features were similar in vaccinated and unvaccinated patients. Most deaths followed medical complications of respiratory paralysis: Fifteen had pneumonia, 29 (83%) died suddenly, 15 had sudden arrhythmias or hypotension, and 7 had myocardial infarction or pulmonary embolus.
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D009980:Influenza A virus / Q000276:immunology*; D007252:Influenza Vaccines / Q000009:adverse effects*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009976:Orthomyxoviridae Infections / Q000517:prevention & control; D011129:Polyradiculoneuropathy / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000401:mortality*; D014481:United States
chemical_list: D007252:Influenza Vaccines