title: Possible autoimmune reactions following smallpox vaccination: the biologic false positive test for syphilis.
abstract: Due to the threat of bioterrorism, large-scale clinical trials of a new cell culture smallpox vaccine were conducted. Biologically false positive (BFR) serological reactions to viruses (hepatitis B and C, HIV) and syphilis were evaluated. BPR rapid reagin tests (RPR) to syphilis occurred in 19% and false positive tests for antibody to hepatitis B in 3.3% of 90 healthy adults undergoing primary vaccination. Most subjects (94%) were RPR-positive on Day 15 after vaccination and all seroreverted within 2 months thereafter. One subject with myocarditis was RPR-negative. One RPR-positive and 1 RPR-negative subject had elevated CK-MB enzymes without other evidence for myocarditis.
authors.affiliation: Acambis Inc, 38 Sidney Street, Cambridge, MA 02139, United States.
authors.forename: Thomas P
authors.initials: TP
authors.lastname: Monath
authors.forename: Sharon E
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Frey
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015551:Autoimmunity; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005189:False Positive Reactions; D005260:Female; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009205:Myocarditis / Q000209:etiology / Q000276:immunology; D012449:Safety; D012698:Serologic Tests; D012900:Smallpox Vaccine / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000276:immunology*; D013587:Syphilis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000276:immunology; D013588:Syphilis Serodiagnosis; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D012900:Smallpox Vaccine