Peripheral neuropathy associated with anti-myelin basic protein antibodies in a woman vaccinated with rubella virus vaccine.
Active immunisation with rubella vaccine has not been commonly associated with neurological complications. We report the case of a 23-year-old woman who developed a mild, distal demyelinating neuropathy after immunisation with the live attenuated RA 27/3 rubella strain. Post-immunisation immunologic studies carried over 24 months showed the presence of antibodies to the RV proteins, particularly to the capsid antigen, and to the myelin basic protein (MBP). A similarity between a C antigen motif and a sequence of the MBP was found by computer analysis. The cross-reactivity was confirmed by immunising mice with a synthetic peptide derived from the MBP, which developed a strong humoral response to RV and MBP. This finding raises the possibility that a virus-induced immune response could lead to an autoaggressive reaction responsible for demyelination.
D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D000906:Antibodies / Q000097:blood*; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000097:blood; D000918:Antibody Specificity; D000956:Antigens, Viral / Q000276:immunology; D015153:Blotting, Western; D003429:Cross Reactions; D003711:Demyelinating Diseases / Q000276:immunology* / Q000628:therapy; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D004676:Myelin Basic Protein / Q000276:immunology*; D010455:Peptides / Q000276:immunology; D012411:Rubella Vaccine / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000276:immunology; D012412:Rubella virus / Q000276:immunology