Incidence of Guillain-Barré syndrome during a nationwide oral poliovirus vaccine campaign

Neurology. 1989 Aug;39(8):1034-6. doi: 10.1212/wnl.39.8.1034.

Abstract

Concomitant with a nationwide oral poliovirus vaccine (OPV) campaign in Finland in 1985, an unexpected rise in the number of patients hospitalized with the Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) occurred. An analysis based on hospital records covering a population of 1.17 million and 6 years revealed a significantly increased incidence of GBS coinciding with the OPV campaign. We carefully examined 10 cases with onset of GBS within 10 weeks after immunization. Only 4 patients could recall recent symptomatic infection, and we found no specific agent in these cases. Our study suggests that live-attenuated polioviruses may, like other infectious viruses, sometimes trigger the GBS.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Cohort Studies
  • Female
  • Finland
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Poliomyelitis / prevention & control
  • Poliovirus Vaccine, Oral / adverse effects*
  • Polyradiculoneuropathy / epidemiology*
  • Polyradiculoneuropathy / etiology
  • Time Factors
  • Vaccination

Substances

  • Poliovirus Vaccine, Oral