title: Long-term persistence of vaccine-derived aluminum hydroxide is associated with chronic cognitive dysfunction.
abstract: Macrophagic myofasciitis (MMF) is an emerging condition, characterized by specific muscle lesions assessing long-term persistence of aluminum hydroxide within macrophages at the site of previous immunization. Affected patients mainly complain of arthromyalgias, chronic fatigue, and cognitive difficulties. We designed a comprehensive battery of neuropsychological tests to prospectively delineate MMF-associated cognitive dysfunction (MACD). Compared to control patients with arthritis and chronic pain, MMF patients had pronounced and specific cognitive impairment. MACD mainly affected (i) both visual and verbal memory; (ii) executive functions, including attention, working memory, and planning; and (iii) left ear extinction at dichotic listening test. Cognitive deficits did not correlate with pain, fatigue, depression, or disease duration. Pathophysiological mechanisms underlying MACD remain to be determined. In conclusion, long-term persistence of vaccine-derived aluminum hydroxide within the body assessed by MMF is associated with cognitive dysfunction, not solely due to chronic pain, fatigue and depression.
authors.affiliation: INSERM, Unite U955, Team 1, Creteil F-94010, France.
authors.forename: Maryline
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Couette
authors.forename: Marie-Françoise
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Boisse
authors.forename: Patrick
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Maison
authors.forename: Pierre
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Brugieres
authors.forename: Pierre
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Cesaro
authors.forename: Xavier
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Chevalier
authors.forename: Romain K
authors.initials: RK
authors.lastname: Gherardi
authors.forename: Anne-Catherine
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Bachoud-Levi
authors.forename: François-Jérôme
authors.initials: FJ
authors.lastname: Authier
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000536:Aluminum Hydroxide / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005208:Fasciitis / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000150:complications* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008264:Macrophages / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014612:Vaccines / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects*
chemical_list: D014612:Vaccines; D000536:Aluminum Hydroxide