Guillain-Barré syndrome following H1N1 immunization in a pediatric patient.
OBJECTIVE
To report a case of Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) following a dose of influenza A (H1N1) vaccine (Arepanrix).


METHODS
An 11-year-old boy was admitted to the hospital after presenting with facial diplegia; abdominal, forehead, and thigh pain; and acute cervical pain. He had received the Arepanrix H1N1 subcutaneous vaccine 13 days before symptom onset. The neurologic examination also revealed a symmetric bilateral paralysis of the VIIth cranial nerve and intense pain, proximal weakness of the shoulder girdles and pelvis, and preserved deep tendon reflexes. Cerebrospinal fluid analysis revealed an albuminocytologic dissociation. Therefore, a diagnosis of atypical GBS following vaccination against HINI influenza was made.


CONCLUSIONS
Based on the clinical evaluation, laboratory test results, neurologic features, and the exclusion of alternative diagnoses, the Naranjo probability scale revealed a probable relationship between the clinical manifestations of GBS and the vaccine against influenza A (H1N1) received by the patient. This is the first published case for the 2009 influenza pandemic in children.


CONCLUSIONS
While recent studies have found inconclusive results on the association between influenza vaccine and GBS, all suspected cases should be published for further evaluation.
Tremblay
Marie-Eve
ME
Pharmacy Department, Centre Hospitalier Sainte Justine, Montréal, Québec, Canada.
Closon
Aurélie
A
D'Anjou
Guy
G
Bussières
Jean-François
JF
D002648:Child; D020275:Guillain-Barre Syndrome / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D053118:Influenza A Virus, H1N1 Subtype; D007252:Influenza Vaccines / Q000009:adverse effects*; D007251:Influenza, Human / Q000517:prevention & control*; D008297:Male
D007252:Influenza Vaccines