title: A Case of Unilateral Optic Neuropathy Following Influenza Vaccination.
abstract: The influenza vaccination has greatly benefited public health, leading to significant reductions in flu season hospitalizations and deaths. However, with more widespread administration of this vaccine, it is expected that the absolute number of patients that present with unusual, adverse reactions will increase. Here, we report a case of a 55-year-old woman who developed a progressive optic neuropathy and severe visual loss associated with optic disc edema following influenza virus vaccination. Our patient also experienced other concurrent symptoms, including bilateral knee effusions, muscle spasms and a facial rash. The strong temporal connection between the vaccine administration and the development of sequelae suggests that the optic neuropathy was an adverse reaction. Furthermore, HLA typing of our patient revealed alleles that have been linked to autoimmune reactions, consistent with the notion that specific HLA alleles could be involved in the pathophysiology of these adverse reactions.
authors.affiliation: a Medical Scholars Program, College of Medicine , University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign , Urbana , IL , USA.
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Papke
authors.affiliation: b Neuroscience Department , Carle, Urbana , IL , USA.
authors.forename: Patricia J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: McNussen
authors.affiliation: c Rheumatology Department , Carle, Urbana , IL , USA.
authors.forename: Mehmoodur
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rasheed
authors.affiliation: d Ophthalmology Department , Carle, Urbana , IL , USA.
authors.forename: Michael S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Tsipursky
authors.affiliation: d Ophthalmology Department , Carle, Urbana , IL , USA.|e Department of Surgery , College of Medicine, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign , Urbana , IL , USA.
authors.forename: Leanne T
authors.initials: LT
authors.lastname: Labriola
mesh_terms: D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D009980:Influenza A virus / Q000276:immunology*; D007252:Influenza Vaccines / Q000009:adverse effects*; D007251:Influenza, Human / Q000517:prevention & control*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009901:Optic Nerve Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000175:diagnosis; D014611:Vaccination / Q000009:adverse effects*; D014792:Visual Acuity; D014794:Visual Fields
chemical_list: D007252:Influenza Vaccines
keywords: Adverse; HLA typing; influenza vaccine; optic disc edema; reaction