Pandemic H1N1 Vaccination and Incidence of Acute Disseminated Encephalomyelitis in Manitoba.
BACKGROUND
An increased incidence of hospital admissions coded as acute disseminated encephalomyelitis (ADEM) was noted in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, during the second wave of the influenza pandemic from October 2009 to March 2010. However, it was not clear whether this was due to heightened awareness of potential neurological complications of influenza or influenza vaccination or an actual increase in the number of cases.


METHODS
We extracted data from the charts of 139 patients hospitalized with an International Classification of Diseases-10 discharge code indicating ADEM (G04.0) or unspecified noninfectious encephalitis or myelitis (G04.8, G04.9) between January 2006 and December 2012. Clinical and laboratory data were reviewed by a neurologist, and diagnoses were determined using the Brighton criteria.


RESULTS
Over the entire study period, there were 22 cases of ADEM. During the peak pandemic period (April-December 2009), seven patients were hospitalized with ADEM, corresponding to a rate of 7.8/million/year; 4.7 (95% confidence interval: 1.9-11.4) times higher than the rate before or after the pandemic period. Only one patient with ADEM had received the monovalent A(H1N1)pdm09 vaccine within 12 weeks of hospitalization.


CONCLUSIONS
We have found an increased incidence of ADEM during the pandemic period that may be related, at least in part, to the increased incidence of influenza during that period. However, there was no temporal relationship with the administration of A(H1N1)pdm09 or seasonal influenza vaccines. Our study provides reassurance that use of these vaccines was not associated with increased risk of ADEM.
1Department of Internal Medicine (Neurology), Faculty of Health Sciences,University of Manitoba,Winnipeg,MB,Canada.
Alan C
AC
Jackson
3Department of Community Health Sciences (Vaccine and Drug Evaluation Centre), Faculty of Health Sciences,University of Manitoba,Winnipeg,MB,Canada.
Luiz C
LC
Mostaço-Guidolin
3Department of Community Health Sciences (Vaccine and Drug Evaluation Centre), Faculty of Health Sciences,University of Manitoba,Winnipeg,MB,Canada.
Hasantha
H
Sinnock
3Department of Community Health Sciences (Vaccine and Drug Evaluation Centre), Faculty of Health Sciences,University of Manitoba,Winnipeg,MB,Canada.
Songul
S
Bozat-Emre
3Department of Community Health Sciences (Vaccine and Drug Evaluation Centre), Faculty of Health Sciences,University of Manitoba,Winnipeg,MB,Canada.
Michael
M
Routledge
3Department of Community Health Sciences (Vaccine and Drug Evaluation Centre), Faculty of Health Sciences,University of Manitoba,Winnipeg,MB,Canada.
Salaheddin M
SM
Mahmud
D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D004673:Encephalomyelitis, Acute Disseminated / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D053118:Influenza A Virus, H1N1 Subtype / Q000276:immunology*; D007252:Influenza Vaccines / Q000009:adverse effects*; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008350:Manitoba / Q000453:epidemiology; D012189:Retrospective Studies
D007252:Influenza Vaccines
A (H1N1) pdm09 vaccine; Encephalomyelitis; Epidemiology; Influenza; Vaccine