The opinion
In the United States Court of Federal Claims
OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
No. 08-724V
June 23, 2014
To be Published
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IDA MOSLEY, *
*
Petitioner, *
*
v. * Td vaccine; transverse myelitis;
* one-day onset
SECRETARY OF HEALTH *
AND HUMAN SERVICES, *
*
Respondent. *
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Diana S. Sedar, Sarasota, FL, for petitioner.
Lisa A. Watts, Washington, DC, for respondent.
MILLMAN, Special Master
DECISION1
On October 14, 2008, petitioner filed a petition under the National Childhood Vaccine
Injury Act, 42 U.S.C. §§ 300aa-10–34 (2006), alleging that a tetanus toxoid (“Td”) vaccination
on September 6, 2007, caused her to suffer from Guillain-Barré syndrome (“GBS”).2 Former
Chief Special Master Gary Golkiewicz assigned the case to himself.
1
Vaccine Rule 18(b) states that all decisions of the special masters will be made available to the
public unless they contain trade secrets or commercial or financial information that is privileged
and confidential, or medical or similar information whose disclosure would constitute a clearly
unwarranted invasion of privacy. When such a decision is filed, petitioner has 14 days to
identify and move to redact such information prior to the document’s disclosure. If the special
master, upon review, agrees that the identified material fits within the categories listed above, the
special master shall redact such material from public access.
2
Petitioner filed an expert report on June 6, 2011, from Dr. William Triggs, a neurologist, in
which he opined that tetanus toxoid vaccine caused petitioner’s transverse myelitis (“TM”). The
undersigned interprets this as petitioner’s amended petition that Td vaccine caused her TM.
From February 2, 2009 to November 30, 2010, the parties attempted to reach a litigative
risk settlement, but failed to agree.
On June 23, 2011, the case was transferred to former Special Master Daria J. Zane.
On February 3, 2012, the parties stipulated to the following facts: petitioner received Td
vaccine at about 11:10 p.m. on Thursday, September 6, 2007. Med. recs. Ex. 5, at 11–12; Ex.
19, at 903. Petitioner visited the Emergency Room (“ER”) on September 8, 2007, complaining
of joint aches, generalized weakness, frequent urination, and the onset of fever on Thursday,
September 6, 2007. Med. recs. Ex. 5, at 141, 149–51. Because urinalysis revealed bacteria in
petitioner’s urine, the ER doctor diagnosed her with a urinary tract infection (“UTI”) and
prescribed Bactrim. Id. at 142, 145. On September 9, 2007, petitioner returned to the ER,
complaining of increased leg weakness, pain radiating into her legs, and difficulty voiding. Med.
recs. Ex. 5, at 20; Ex. 28, at 2. In the ER, petitioner had preserved deep tendon reflexes
(“DTRs”) and no sensory loss. Med. recs. Ex. 5, at 76. Petitioner’s white blood cell (“WBC”)
count was elevated at 11,100 with increased neutrophils, and her erythrocyte sedimentation rate
was elevated at 41. Med. recs. Ex. 19, at 210, 494, 495. Petitioner was admitted to Florida
Heartland Hospital where Dr. Ramkissoon, a neurologist, evaluated her on September 11, 2007.
Med. recs. Ex. 5, at 116. He found normal DTRs and slightly reduced strength. Id. at 121; Ex.
19, at 186. A lumbar puncture revealed elevated protein (at 87) in petitioner’s cerebrospinal
fluid (“CSF”), with a WBC of 60, and 100% lymphocytes (pleocytosis). Med. recs. Ex. 5, at 23,
113. Possible diagnoses at that time included viral meningitis, spinal cord lesion, and GBS.
Med. recs. Ex. 5, at 23; Ex. 28, at 2. MRIs of petitioner’s brain and spinal cord at that time
revealed no lesions. Med. recs. Ex. 5, at 51–53; Ex. 19, at 992–93, 997; Ex. 39, at 189–90. Dr.
Ramkissoon examined petitioner on September 14, 2007, and found she had loss of DTRs in her
knees and ankles and down-going toes, but she had normal reflexes in her upper extremities.
Med. recs. Ex. 5, at 77–79. A repeat lumbar puncture showed normal protein in her CSF, a
WBC of 33, and continued pleocytosis. Id. at 49, 52, 77–79, 81; Ex. 28, at 3. Dr. Ramkissoon
noted absent F waves on petitioner’s nerve conduction studies. Med. recs. at Ex. 5, at 45.
Differential diagnoses included viral meningitis and GBS. Id. Petitioner was transferred to the
ICU where she was treated for GBS with a five-day course of intravenous immunoglobulin
(“IVIG”). Id. at 77–79; Ex. 28, at 3. Petitioner’s symptoms stopped progressing, and her
reflexes, sensory changes, and strength showed some improvement. Med. recs. Ex. 4, at 21. On
September 20, 2007, petitioner was transferred to in-patient rehabilitation at Winter Haven
Hospital. Med. recs. Ex. 4, at 12–22. The doctor performing petitioner’s admission examination
noted that she had developed malaise, polyarthralgia, polymyalgias, weakness, and fevers one
day after receiving a tetanus shot. Id. at 12. The doctor diagnosed petitioner with “acute
inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy with onset dating back to September 7, 2007.” Id.
at 13.
On February 8, 2012, petitioner filed a Motion In Limine To Consolidate (De-Bifurcate)
Proceedings and to Exclude Evidence. In her motion, petitioner moved to combine both the
2
issues of entitlement and damages at the hearing. She also moved to exclude the expert report of
Dr. James McCluskey (filed by petitioner on October 26, 2009 as Exhibit 19), which was written
for petitioner’s disability claim against her employer. On February 21, 2012, respondent filed
her response opposing the motion. Former Special Master Zane heard argument on petitioner’s
motion on February 24, 2012, and denied the motion on March 3, 2012.
On July 11 and 20, 2012, former Special Master Zane held a hearing in this case.
Transcripts of the hearing were filed on August 8, 2012. Dr. William Triggs, a neurologist,
testified for petitioner. Dr. Thomas P. Leist, a neurologist, testified for respondent.
On January 14, 2013, the parties filed simultaneous post-hearing briefs. On April 15,
2013, the parties filed simultaneous responsive briefs.
On August 31, 2013, former Special Master Zane retired. On September 23, 2013, Chief
Special Master Denise K. Vowell assigned the case to herself to explore the possibility of
settlement. Settlement was not availing. On November 6, 2013, this case was transferred to the
undersigned.
On December 4, 2013, the undersigned held a telephonic status conference with counsel.
At the hearing, petitioner’s expert, Dr. Triggs, testified that petitioner had partial myelitis but no
demyelination, although in his expert report, he described petitioner as having a demyelinating
disease. The undersigned requested that Dr. Triggs explain how long it takes an autoimmune
reaction to cause partial myelitis and the basis for his opinion. The undersigned ordered
petitioner to file Dr. Triggs’ supplemental expert report by February 11, 2014.
On February 4, 2014, petitioner filed a motion for an extension of time of sixty days to
file Dr. Triggs’ supplemental expert report, which the undersigned granted that day, setting a
new deadline of April 4, 2014.
On April 4, 2014, petitioner filed a second motion for an extension of time, requesting
forty-five days to file Dr. Triggs’ supplemental expert report, which the undersigned granted on
April 7, 2014 in an Order, setting a new deadline of May 19, 2014.
On May 19, 2014, petitioner filed Dr. Triggs’ supplemental expert report as Exhibit 70.
On May 20, 2014, the court received a CD from petitioner containing the five medical articles to
which Dr. Triggs referred in his supplemental expert report.
On May 29, 2014, the undersigned held a telephonic status conference with counsel to
discuss Dr. Triggs’ supplemental expert report and the literature to which he referred in that
report.
The case is now ready for adjudication.
3
FACTS
I. Pre-vaccination records
Petitioner was born on February 18, 1962.
On May 29, 1973, July 14, 1981, and January 10, 1990, petitioner received Td vaccine.
Med. recs. Ex. 19, at 882, 897. She received the 1973 and 1981 Td vaccinations at the Hardee
County Health Department, and the 1990 Td vaccination at the Watson Clinic. Id. There is a
booster tetanus vaccination dated October 19, 1972 at the Hardee County Health Department, but
it is unclear if petitioner received it, because if she had, she would not have needed the booster
Td vaccination she received just seven months later on May 29, 1973. Id. at 897.
On January 10, 1990, petitioner visited the Watson Clinic after an automobile accident on
January 5, 1990. Id. at 882. She had first been to DeSoto Memorial Hospital ER, later Lakeland
Regional Medical Center ER, and lastly Hardee Memorial Hospital. Id. She was diagnosed with
contusions and viral syndrome. Id. All her x-rays were negative. Id. She complained of pain at
the base of her neck and in her left elbow and left knee. Id. During her examination at Watson
Clinic, she said she needed to make a telephone call, as she was late for an appointment with her
attorney. Id. Dr. Hoke H. Shirley, Jr., diagnosed petitioner with cervical strain, contusion and
abrasion of her left elbow, and contusion of her left knee. Id.
On January 30, 1990, Urgent Care referred petitioner to the Watson Clinic. Med. recs.
Ex. 19, at 879. Dr. Wallace W. Coyner wrote that petitioner was involved in an automobile
accident on January 5, 1990. Id. She was not wearing a seat belt when a camper struck her car.
Id. She went to DeSoto Memorial Hospital and later checked in at Lakeland Regional Medical
Center because of chest pain that night. Id. A few days later, she went to Hardee Memorial
Hospital for chest pain. Id. She complained of left knee pain and some pain in her left arm as
well as pain in her head. Id. She said her mother thought it was her nerves, but she thought
something was wrong with her knee. Id. Petitioner weighed 176 pounds and was five foot two
inches tall. Id. Dr. Coyner opined that petitioner probably sprained her knee. Id. He stated,
“Her clinical findings are not quite as impressive as is her dysfunction. I am unable to explain
this difference at this time.” Id. Dr. Coyner suggested petitioner continue with her anti-
inflammatory and analgesic agents and give the knee time to heal. Id. He expected petitioner
could return to work in two weeks. Id. He stated, “There is always some concern on the part of
the physician to learn that the attorneys were consulted before the physician was consulted, and
that tends to make one be concerned about the possibility of secondary gain motives.” Id. at 880.
On March 13, 1990, petitioner saw Dr. Eberto Pineiro at the Watson Clinic for a second
opinion regarding her knee. Id. at 871. During her motor vehicle accident on January 5, 1990, a
truck struck the left front of petitioner’s car, throwing her forward, and her left knee struck the
dashboard. Id. X-rays at DeSoto Memorial Emergency Room were negative. Id. One to two
days later, she complained of stiffness in her left knee and said she could not walk. Id. Her
4
mother took her to Lakeland Regional Medical Center. Id. Repeat x-rays were also negative.
Id. A few days later, petitioner complained of chest pain and was taken to Hardee Memorial
Hospital, where the doctors attributed her chest pains to muscle spasms. Id. She was seen at
Urgent Care three times, once by Dr. Shirley and twice by Dr. Coyner, who referred her to Dr.
Pineiro. Id. Petitioner complained of left foot pain and constant, dull headaches. Id. Petitioner
had frequent, severe headaches with spells of dizziness. Id. at 873. She had difficulty using her
legs. Id. She had difficulty with vision that year. Id. Dr. Pineiro diagnosed petitioner with post-
traumatic headaches without focal neurological deficits, external obesity, and left post-traumatic
knee pain. Id. at 872.
On March 5, 2000, petitioner was hit by a car while collecting shopping carts at her work.
Med. recs. Ex. 6, at 13. She went to the Emergency Room, where she was diagnosed with a right
hip contusion. Id. She initially benefitted from physical therapy, and, due to an exacerbation of
symptoms, went to Florida Hospital, Heartland Division, for physical therapy on January 29,
2001. Id. Petitioner reported occasional paresthesia down the posterolateral aspect of her right
leg to her knee. Id. She complained of difficulty with sustained standing and noted trembling in
the musculature of the right lower extremity, secondary to unexpected buckling from her right
knee. Id. She walked with a cane. Id.
II. Post-vaccination records
On Thursday, September 6, 2007, at 10:20 p.m., petitioner went to Florida Hospital,
Heartland Division, Sebring, ER. Med. recs. Ex. 5, at 3. She had punctured her right thumb on a
piece of metal. Id. at 12. Petitioner received Td vaccine at 11:10 p.m. Id. at 8.
On Saturday, September 8, 2007, at 6:17 p.m., petitioner returned to Florida Hospital ER
in a wheelchair, complaining of body aches, joint aches, and fever, which started on Thursday,
September 6, 2007. Id. at 149. She had generalized weakness and frequent urination. Id. at
141. Her temperature was 99.4 degrees. Id. at 149. Dr. Pigman’s clinical impression was
petitioner had a urinary tract infection. Id. at 142. Petitioner gave a history that she was at
Florida Hospital on Thursday night for a tetanus injection, and she started to feel unwell on
Friday, September 7, 2007. Id. at 149. She was given antibiotics and a prescription for an
antibiotic. Id. at 143.
On Sunday, September 9, 2007, at 3:31 p.m., petitioner returned to Florida Hospital ER,
complaining of aching all over with weak legs for three days. Id. at 15, 13. She was unable to
urinate. Id. at 15. She complained of suprapubic pain radiating down both legs. Id. at 20. She
complained of dull pain and pressure in her abdomen whose onset was gradual over four days.
Id. She was catheterized at 4:20 p.m. Id. Her initial urinary output was 1,000 mL. Id. She was
admitted to the hospital. Id. at 14. A progress note of September 10, 2007, states petitioner
received tetanus toxoid and, 24 hours later, had general malaise, weakness, tremor, and fever. Id.
at 127. A progress note of September 11, 2007 states petitioner received tetanus toxoid on
September 6, 2007 after suffering an injury. Id. at 68. She developed progressive lower
5
extremity weakness the next day. Id. She had a temperature of 102.1 degrees on September 10,
2007. Id. On September 14, 2007, petitioner had a lumbar puncture performed. Id. at 23. Dr.
Bridglal Ramkissoon interpreted the results as suggestive of viral meningitis. Id. The initial
spinal tap performed on September 11, 2007 showed elevated protein of 87. Id. It also showed
61 white blood cells with 100 percent lymphocytes, which was not consistent with GBS. Id.
On September 17, 2007, Dr. Luis A. Duharte wrote that he had examined petitioner and
reviewed her chart. Id. at 129. She had remained afebrile for two days and said she felt a little
bit stronger. Id. Dr. Duharte suspected petitioner had a viral infection, probably enterovirus 71
because of her symptoms. Id.
From September 20 to October 3, 2007, petitioner was at Winter Haven Hospital. Med.
recs. Ex. 4, at 15. On September 21, 2007, Dr. Alain Delgado did a neurological consultation at
Winter Haven Hospital. Id. Petitioner gave Dr. Delgado the history that she cut her finger, went
to the ER, had a tetanus shot and, the next day, developed malaise, polyarthralgia, polymyalgia,
weakness, and fevers. Id. at 12. Dr. Delgado’s impression was that petitioner had acute
inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy whose onset was September 7, 2007. Id. at 13. Dr.
Delgado noted that petitioner’s case was atypical because she had elevated white blood cells at
60, which appeared to be 100 percent lymphocytic, suggesting some kind of viral etiology. Id.
Also on September 21, 2007, petitioner saw Pablo H. Norona for a psychological
screening report. Id. at 23. She stated that she punctured her finger, went to the ER for a tetanus
toxoid shot, and, following the shot, began experiencing weakness, stiffness, and inability to
walk, followed by two falls at home. Id. She returned to the ER. Id.
Dr. William L. Earp, writing the discharge summary for Winter Haven Hospital on
October 3, 2007, noted petitioner’s history of transferring from Florida Hospital at Sebring, with
complaints of weakness, some sensory changes, and decreasing endurance. Id. at 15. Petitioner
described her current problems as possibly beginning with a cut on her finger. Id. She went to
the ER and received a tetanus shot. Id. The next day after her tetanus shot, she started
developing malaise, polymyalgia, polyarthralgia, weakness, and fever. Id. The doctor diagnosed
her with a urinary tract infection and treated her with an antibiotic. Id.
On October 9, 2007, petitioner saw Dr. Audwin B. Nelson, an internist, and gave him the
history that on September 6, 2007, she cut the first digit on her right hand at work, went to the
ER later that day, and received a tetanus booster. Med. recs. Ex. 1, at 8, 10. She developed
weakness in her legs the next day and was eventually hospitalized on September 9, 2007, after
the weakness and numbness of her legs worsened. Id.
On October 30, 2007, petitioner began physical therapy. Med. recs. Ex. 6, at 38.
Physical therapist Evelyn Ongsiako evaluated petitioner, noting that petitioner reported her
current condition started on September 7, 2007 after she received a tetanus shot. Id. Petitioner
stated that on that day, she started having difficulty moving around. Id. She then went to the
6
ER, which sent her home. Id. The following day, September 8, 2007, she continued to have
difficulty ambulating and went back to the hospital. Id. She was not admitted to the hospital
until September 9, 2007. Id. Two to three weeks after her hospital admission, the doctors finally
diagnosed her with GBS. Id. A week later, she was transferred to a rehabilitation facility in
Winter Haven, where she continued strengthening. Id. She was discharged home and was much
improved. Id. Upon a recent visit with her primary care physician, she was referred for
outpatient physical therapy for further evaluation and treatment. Id. Her medical history is
significant for dizziness. Id.
In March 2008, petitioner qualified for Social Security Disability Income (“SSDI”)
benefits. Med. recs. Ex. 23, at 1.
On September 9, 2008, petitioner saw Dr. James McCluskey for an independent medical
examination. Med. recs. Ex. 19, at 910–24. Dr. McCluskey wrote a detailed history based on his
conversation with petitioner. On Thursday, September 6, 2007, petitioner nicked her right thumb
on an exposed screw head while exiting a stairwell at work around 6:45 p.m. Id. at 911. She
went home, but at around 10:00 p.m., she went to Florida Hospital Heartland ER to get a tetanus
shot. Id. She felt fine the rest of the evening until her husband, who works the midnight shift,
prepared to leave for work. Id. At that time, she had a headache and took Excedrin. Id. She
also called the hospital, told the nurse she was having a headache, and asked if there were a
relationship between the tetanus shot and the headache. Id. At 4:00 a.m., September 7, 2007,
petitioner woke at her normal time and reported that her toes/feet were tingling, but she did not
have a headache. Id. She went to work at around 8:00 or 8:30 a.m. Id. Between 10:30 and
11:00 a.m. on September 7, 2007, petitioner noted tingling in her fingers but no pain in her arms
or legs. Id. She told her co-worker she did not feel well and asked to leave in the mid-afternoon.
Id. After leaving work, she stopped at a convenience store to buy a soda and went home. Id.
She lay down and woke several hours later feeling weak, particularly in her legs. Id. When she
walked into her kitchen, she suddenly felt heat, numbness, and tingling in her arms and legs. Id.
She also had a headache. Id. Later in the evening of Friday, September 7, 2007, she was
scheduled to work at her part-time job with South Florida Community College from 10:00 p.m.
to 2:00 a.m. Id. Shortly after 6:00 p.m. on September 8, 2007, petitioner went back to the
Florida Hospital Heartland ER, where they diagnosed her with a urinary tract infection, gave her
an antibiotic, and prescribed an antibiotic. Id. She did not fill the prescription. Id. Petitioner
went to work but left after about an hour because she did not feel well. Id. She had a strong urge
to urinate. Id. On the way home, petitioner bought gas, which she pumped into her car, and
went to bed when she arrived home. Id. At about 2:30 a.m. on September 9, 2007, petitioner got
up to use the toilet and her legs felt weak. Id. She sat on the bathroom floor until 5:00 a.m.
when her sons helped her back to bed . Id. She remained in bed until 7:30 or 8:00 a.m. Id. At
that time, she walked into her kitchen to get some champagne grapes for a snack and slid onto
the floor because her legs gave out. Id. Petitioner’s family took her to Florida Hospital ER
midday, where she was informed she had a UTI-URI. Id. She went home to bed. Id. Sometime
between 7:00 p.m. and 8:30 p.m., she called South Florida Community College and told them
7
she could not come to work because she felt unwell. Id. She returned to the ER that night, and
they admitted her to the hospital. Id. Subsequently, she was diagnosed with GBS. Id.
Dr. McCluskey in his September 9, 2008 examination notes that petitioner was receiving
Social Security disability payments. Med. recs. Ex. 19, at 913. She never returned to work after
her September 2007 hospitalization. Id. During his physical examination of petitioner, Dr.
McClusky noted petitioner was alert and oriented to person, place, and time, and that she
answered all questions without difficulty. Id. at 914. Petitioner had difficulty with movement.
Id. She walked with assistance and required help to get on the exam table. Id. She responded
appropriately to questioning, and her short-term memory appeared intact. Id. Her DTRs were
2/4 at the knee and biceps tendon bilaterally. Id. Sensation appeared intact throughout. Id. Dr.
McCluskey reviewed petitioner’s vaccination history and stated in his report that the Td
vaccination of September 6, 2007 was at least the fourth vaccine containing tetanus toxoid that
she has received. Id. at 921.
On December 19, 2008, petitioner entered into a worker’s compensation settlement with
her employer’s carrier. Med. recs. Ex. 20, at 11. Winter Haven Hospital agreed that petitioner
punctured her right thumb while in its employ. Id. at 2. The lump sum settlement included
$5,000.00 for the cost of petitioner’s future medical care and treatment, and $10,000.00 in full
satisfaction of the obligation to pay. Id. at 3.
Petitioner filed a statement from her treating neurologist, Dr. Bridglal Ramkissoon, dated
January 31, 2012, as Exhibit 65. Dr. Ramkissoon states that he first saw petitioner on September
9, 2007, at Florida Hospital Heartland. Ex. 65, at 1. She was unable to urinate and had lower
extremity weakness but preserved reflexes. Id. He gave her a presumed diagnosis of GBS. Id.
His opinion is that tetanus toxoid vaccine caused her GBS because there was no other cause for
her GBS. Id. Dr. Ramkissoon opines that petitioner’s vaccination triggered molecular mimicry
to destroy segments of the myelin sheath around her nerves. Id. at 1–2. He also relies on the fact
that tetanus vaccination was given just days prior to her symptoms. Id. at 2.
EXPERTS’ REPORTS
Petitioner filed the expert opinion of Dr. Triggs as Exhibit 28. Dr. Triggs states that,
although doctors diagnosed petitioner with GBS, her medical records and clinical presentation
point to an “immune-mediated demyelinating disorder more consistent with a central nervous
system process and the diagnosis of transverse myelitis.” Ex. 28, at 5. Dr. Triggs lists the basis
for his reasoning. First, petitioner’s CSF showed a level of pleocytosis that excludes the
diagnosis of an inflammatory demyelinating neuropathy such as GBS or chronic inflammatory
demyelinating polyneuropathy, but is consistent with transverse myelitis (“TM”). Id. Secondly,
petitioner retained her deep tendon reflexes, which is contrary to a diagnosis of GBS but is
consistent with TM. Id. Thirdly, petitioner’s neurologic disorder included “urinary bladder
dysfunction that was both an early clinical manifestation of her illness and was relatively
8
disproportional to her weakness.” Id. Dr. Triggs states that TM results in neuronal injury and
demyelination. Id. at 6.
Respondent filed the expert report of Dr. Leist as Exhibit B. Dr. Leist notes that the
presence of urinary tract symptoms on September 8, 2007 suggested the presence of a neurologic
process affecting her bladder control. Ex. B, at 7–8. (This is the same point Dr. Triggs made in
his expert report.) Dr. Leist notes the time petitioner signed the informed consent for Td vaccine
was 11:10 p.m. on September 6, 2007. Id. at 7. Relying on Dr. McCluskey’s extensive
interview and evaluation of petitioner on October 20, 2008, when petitioner told Dr. McCluskey
that she became aware of tingling in her toes when she rose at 4:00 a.m. on September 7, 2007,
Dr. Leist opines that there was an onset interval of five hours between petitioner’s Td
vaccination and the onset of her neurologic disorder. Id. at 8. Dr. Leist writes that the time
interval of five hours “between vaccination and onset of tingling in the toes is too short for
induction or re-stimulation of a self-reactive immune process against the constituents of the Td
vaccine,” regardless of whether petitioner had GBS or TM. Id.
Dr. Leist states that when petitioner came to the ER on September 9, 2007, complaining
of aching all over and leg weakness for three days, fever, chills, and difficulty voiding, the tests
results of her blood were consistent with an infection. Id. Her white blood cell count was
elevated at 11,100 with increased neutrophils. Id. Her erythrocyte sedimentation rate was
elevated at 41. Id. Dr. Leist states that bodily joint pain, fever, chills, increased white cell count
with a left shift, and an elevated erythrocyte sedimentation rate are consistent with an infection.
Id. at 8. Dr. Duharte, a treating doctor, noted on September 17, 2007, that petitioner still had a
viral infection, probably enterovirus 71. Id. at 9 (citing Ex. 5, at 129).
Dr. Leist concludes that petitioner did not have GBS and that she could not have had a
demyelinating process five hours after Td vaccination because the onset interval was too short.
Id. at 10. Dr. Leist opines that an infection prior to petitioner’s receipt of Td vaccine caused her
flu-like symptoms, fever, and neurologic presentation, which began on September 7, 2007. Id.
On May 19, 2014, after the hearing, petitioner filed a supplemental expert report of Dr.
Triggs in response to the undersigned’s Order, as Exhibit 70. Dr. Triggs states that TM includes
symptoms of bladder and bowel dysfunction. Ex. 70, at 1. He states that petitioner received
tetanus vaccine at 10:52 p.m. on September 6, 2007. Id. at 2. He also states that petitioner went
to the ER at 6:00 p.m. on September 8, 2007 with a urinary tract infection. Id. at 3. Dr. Triggs
believes that the onset interval between petitioner’s tetanus vaccination and her symptoms was
“a little over 48 hours” because he puts onset at 5:00 a.m. on September 9, 2007. Id. He
distinguishes between petitioner’s urological complaints (which began within a day after her
vaccination) and her neurological complaints. Id. at 4. Petitioner had bilateral lower extremity
weakness with intermittent loss of reflexes and significant bladder dysfunction. Id. at 5. Dr.
Triggs states he was reluctant at the hearing to commit to molecular mimicry as the mechanism
causing petitioner’s TM. Id. at 7. He states tetanus vaccine can stimulate a cross-reactivity of
immune cells from the initial challenge and cause an inadvertent response within “self-cells.” Id.
9
Dr. Triggs states we do not have clear diagnostic evidence of demyelination in petitioner, but she
had clinical signs of an inflammatory process. Id. at 8. He does not agree that five days (as Dr.
Leist testified) is required in order to produce an inflammatory and/or autoimmune response, and
he cites case reports in the medical literature filed as Exhibits 41–60.3 He refers to a TM Fact
Sheet from NIH/NINDS, which notes that the onset of symptoms can occur from within hours to
several days to the outer ranges of one to four weeks.4 Id.
MEDICAL LITERATURE
Filed together with Dr. Triggs’ initial expert report are Exhibits 30 through 36, comprised
of references Dr. Triggs made in his initial expert report.
Exhibit 30 is a case report entitled, “Acute transverse myelitis in a 7-month-old boy after
diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis immunization.” R.M.S. Riel-Romero, Acute transverse myelitis in a
7-month-old boy after diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis immunization, 44 Spinal Cord 688 (2006).
3
The onset intervals for TM after vaccination in Exhibits 41–60 do not support Dr. Triggs’
opinion that onset can happen two days after vaccination and be causal. All of the articles that
address onset have onsets longer than two days. For example, Exhibit 41 has a 17-day onset.
Exhibit 42 has a 21-day onset. Exhibit 43 has a 16-day onset. Exhibit 44 has a four-week onset.
Exhibit 45 has numerous onsets (ranging from two to nine days), and the authors caution against
assuming causation from coincidences. Exhibit 46 has a two-month onset. Exhibit 47 has a
three-week onset. Exhibit 48 has a 10-day onset. Exhibit 49 has a two-week onset. Exhibit 50
has a three-week onset. Exhibit 51 has a two-week onset. Exhibit 52 has a six-day onset.
Exhibit 53 has a five-day onset. Exhibit 57 has a 16-day onset. Exhibit 59 has a 6- to 7-day
onset. The other articles do not address onset specifically. Exhibit 54 is a chapter on acute
disseminated encephalomyelitis from a textbook on autoimmune neurological disease. Exhibit
55 is an article about neurological complications from swine flu vaccine. Exhibit 56 is an article
about mono- and poly-neuritis (both peripheral neuropathies) after tetanus vaccination. Exhibit
58 is an article about the signs and symptoms of TM. Exhibit 60 is a chapter on acute
disseminated encephalomyelitis from a textbook on clinical neuroimmunology. In sum, these
exhibits do not support Dr. Triggs’ statement that a brief (he would posit a little more than 48
hours) interval between tetanus vaccination and onset of TM is “well-established” in the case
reports he cited in his initial expert report. Ex. 70, at 8.
4
Dr. Triggs’ description of the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke TM Fact
Sheet (Ex. 75) misrepresents its contents. The TM Fact Sheet says that symptoms of TM can
occur over several hours to several weeks. Ex. 75, at 1. It does not say that several hours to
several weeks is the interval between a trigger, such as a vaccination, and the onset of the TM
itself. The TM Fact Sheet does not discuss onset intervals after vaccination or a trigger at all.
The description in the Fact Sheet of developing TM over hours to several days or from one to
four weeks indicates solely the difference between acute TM and subacute TM; it does not refer
to the interval between trigger and onset of TM. Id. at 2.
10
(Petitioner also filed this case report as Exhibit 41.) A seven-month-old male was hospitalized
with acute TM 17 days after he received DTaP vaccine. Ex. 30, at 1. He also had an upper
respiratory infection two weeks prior to admission. Id. The author does not conclude that the
vaccination caused the child’s TM, as the child also had an upper respiratory infection within a
similar time period (two weeks before hospitalization). Id. at 3. The author lists other case
reports of vaccinees with TM post-vaccination: (1) a baby with TM 17 days after DPT vaccine;
(2) a baby with paraplegia six days after DT and oral polio vaccines; (3) a toddler with acute TM
21 days after MMR vaccine; (4) a teenager with right-sided weakness and numbness one week
after hepatitis B vaccine; (5) a four-year-old with acute TM 14 days after Japanese B encephalitis
vaccine; (6) a nine-year-old with TM 16 days after measles and rubella vaccine; and (7) an adult
who developed fatal inflammatory polyradiculopathy/myelopathy nine days after hepatitis B
vaccine. Id.
Exhibit 31 is a case report in the form of a letter entitled, “Transverse myelitis after
vaccination.” G. Zanoni et al., Transverse myelitis after vaccination, 9 Eur. J. Neurology 696
(2002). (Petitioner also filed this case report as Exhibit 42.) A 15-month-old baby girl had acute
TM 21 days after her first MMR and fourth DTaP vaccinations. Ex. 31, at 3. The authors note
that the MRI failed to detect abnormalities or spinal cord swelling, but this is typical of 60
percent of myelitis cases. Id. The authors suggest further study to determine causality. Id. at 4.
Exhibit 32 is a case report entitled, “Transverse myelitis after measles and rubella
vaccination.” S. Lim et al., Transverse myelitis after measles and rubella vaccination, 40 J.
Pediatric Child Health 583 (2004). (Petitioner also filed this case report as Exhibit 43.) A nine-
year-old girl had urinary incontinence 16 days after receiving her first measles rubella
vaccination. Ex. 32, at 2. Four days later, she developed low back pain and lower limb
weakness and was hospitalized. Id. The authors recognize that TM is most frequently associated
with an antecedent upper respiratory illness but may also follow other viruses. Id. at 3. They do
not conclude the girl’s TM was due to her vaccination, but they could not find another cause. Id.
Exhibit 33 is a case report entitled, “Acute Transverse Myelitis After Influenza
Vaccination: Magnetic Resonance Imaging Findings.” R. Bakshi et al., Acute Transverse
Myelitis After Influenza Vaccination: Magnetic Resonance Imaging Findings, 6 J. Neuroimaging
248 (1996). (Petitioner also filed this case report as Exhibit 44.) A 36-year-old woman was
hospitalized with a one-week history of progressive leg weakness, numbness below the chest,
and urinary retention. Ex. 33, at 3. Her symptoms began four weeks after receiving influenza
vaccine. Id. She had not had any antecedent illnesses. Id. She was diagnosed with post-
vaccination syndrome by exclusion. Id. at 4.
Exhibit 34 is an article entitled, “Immunopathogenesis of acute transverse myelitis.” D.A.
Kerr et al., Immunopathogenesis of acute transverse myelitis, 15 Current Opinion Neurology 339
(2002). (Petitioner also filed this article as Exhibit 45.) The authors state that virtually all TM
patients have some degree of bladder dysfunction. Ex. 34, at 2. For those with idiopathic TM,
the time between onset of symptoms and nadir of symptomatology is four hours to 21 days. Id.
11
The authors state that case reports must be viewed with caution, as two events occurring closely
in time may be coincidental. Id. at 3. Possible biological causative mechanisms include
molecular mimicry, superantigens, autoantibodies, or high levels of normal circulating
antibodies. Id. at 4–5.
Exhibit 35 is a case report in the form of a letter entitled, “Acute transverse myelitis after
tetanus toxoid vaccination.” S.J. Read et al., Acute transverse myelitis after tetanus toxoid
vaccination, 339 Lancet 1111 (1992). (Petitioner also filed this case report as Exhibit 57.) A 50-
year-old man received tetanus toxoid vaccine. Ex. 35, at 3. Sixteen days later, he had
generalized myalgia, lethargy, fatigue, and mild bi-frontal headache. Id. Twelve days after his
initial presentation, he was admitted to the hospital with TM. Id.
Exhibit 36 is a case report entitled, “Transverse myelitis after diphtheria, tetanus, and
polio immunization.” E. Whittle et al., Transverse myelitis after diphtheria, tetanus, and polio
immunization, 1 Brit. Med. J. 1450 (1977). (Petitioner also filed this case report as Exhibit 59.)
A seven-month-old girl developed TM six to seven days after receiving her first diphtheria,
tetanus toxoid, and polio vaccinations. Ex. 36, at 1. She also had a history of a slight cough and
hoarse cry for four days. Id. The authors note that, although myelitis may have occurred by
chance, the onset of the baby’s symptoms occurred when reactions to vaccinations are most
frequently found. Id.
Subsequently, petitioner filed other medical literature. Exhibit 46 is a case report
entitled, “Acute Transverse Myelitis at the Conus Medullaris Level After Rabies Vaccination in
a Patient with Behҁet’s Disease.” L.S. Bir et al., Acute Transverse Myelitis at the Conus
Medullaris Level After Rabies Vaccination in a Patient with Behҁet’s Disease, 30 J. Spinal Cord
Med. 294 (2007). The onset interval of acute TM after rabies vaccination was two months. Ex.
46, at 1. The authors posit that the vaccine may have contributed to the acute TM. Id. at 3.
Exhibit 47 is a case report entitled, “Acute radiculomyelitis after antitetanus vaccination.”
F. Tezzon et al., Acute radiculomyelitis after antitetanus vaccination, 15 Italian J. Neurological
Sci. 191 (1994). A 40-year-old woman had right lumbar sciatica three weeks after tetanus toxoid
vaccination. Ex. 47, at 1. Her sciatica was soon followed by paresthesia and hypoesthesia of the
lower limbs, and severe hyposthenia, making standing difficult. Id. The authors refer to a 1937
case report that was the first report of neurological complications after tetanus toxoid. Id. at 2.
The case report referred to a case of fatal acute necrotic encephalomyelitis, whose onset was
eight days after vaccination. Id. The authors describe another case report of a woman who, five
days after antitetanus vaccine, had a serious neurologic illness that included both the central and
peripheral nervous systems. Id. at 3. The authors refer to two 1992 case reports, the first
reporting optic neuritis and acute myelitis three days after vaccination, and the second reporting
severe acute encephalomyelitis ten days after antitetanus vaccine. Id. The authors state, “In the
majority of the cases reported in the literature, the time interval between vaccination and the
development of neurological complications varies between 10 and 20 days. In our case, the first
signs of radiculomyelitis appeared 20 days after vaccination.” Id. They conclude that the time
12
interval between the vaccination and the neurological event suggests antibody movement or a
cell-mediated mechanism. Id.
Exhibit 48 is a case report entitled, “Early-Onset Acute Transverse Myelitis Following
Hepatitis B Vaccination and Respiratory Infection.” L.F. Fonseca et al., Early-Onset Acute
Transverse Myelitis Following Hepatitis B Vaccination and Respiratory Infection, 61 Arquivos
Neuro-Psiquiatria 265 (2003). A three-year-old boy had acute TM ten days after receiving a
hepatitis B vaccine while he had a mild upper airway respiratory illness manifested by rhinorrhea
and cough. Ex. 48, at 2. The authors state the mean interval from infection to onset of
neurological symptoms is reported as between nine days to three weeks. Id. at 3. The authors
could not determine whether the viral respiratory infection or the hepatitis B vaccination caused
the TM, but they posited it might be both antigens. Id. at 4.
Exhibit 49 is a case report entitled, “MR Imaging in a Case of Postvaccination Myelitis.”
L.M. Tartaglino et al., MR Imaging in a Case of Postvaccination Myelitis, 16 Am. J.
Neuroradiology 581 (1995). A 40-year-old male had TM two weeks after receiving his first
hepatitis B vaccination. Ex. 49, at 1. One month after he received his second vaccination, the
sensory disturbance ascended. Id. The authors state, “[T]he striking temporal relationship
between symptoms and the two doses of hepatitis B vaccine strongly suggests that the vaccine
was the cause.” Id.
Exhibit 50 is a case report entitled, “Acute myelitis following hepatitis B vaccination.” F.
Mahassin et al., Acute myelitis following hepatitis B vaccination, 22 La Presse Médicale 1997
(1993). The article is written in French with a one-paragraph abstract in English. The authors
describe a 56-year-old man who had TM three weeks after receiving hepatitis B vaccine. Ex. 50,
at 2.
Exhibit 51 is a case report entitled, “Acute Myelitis after Hepatitis B Vaccination.” H-K
Song et al., Acute Myelitis after Hepatitis B Vaccination, 12 J. Korean Med. Sci. 249 (1997). A
31-year-old man had acute TM two weeks after receiving his third dose of plasma-derived
hepatitis B vaccine. Ex. 51, at 1. The authors surmise the temporal relationship between the
symptoms and the vaccination “strongly suggests that the vaccine was the cause.” Id. The
authors write that a possible mechanism involves an autoimmune phenomenon associated with
T-cell mediated immune reaction. Id.
Exhibit 52 is a case report in the form of a Letter to the Editor, translated from French,
entitled, “Acute myelitis after hepatitis B immunization with a recombinant vaccine.” A.
Senejoux et al., Acute myelitis after hepatitis B immunization with a recombinant vaccine, 20
Gastroénterologie Clinique Biologique 401 (1996). A 65-year-old woman had acute TM six
days after receiving her second dose of hepatitis B vaccine. Ex. 52, at 1.
Exhibit 53 is a case report entitled, “Acute transverse myelitis following typhoid
vaccination.” R.N. Das et al., Acute transverse myelitis following typhoid vaccination, 76 Ulster
13
Med. J. 39 (2007). A 19-year-old man had acute TM five days after receiving typhoid vaccine.
Ex. 53, at 1.
Exhibit 72 is a case report entitled, “Myelopathy following influenza vaccination in
inflammatory CNS disorder treated with chronic immunosuppression.” A.J. Larner et al.,
Myelopathy following influenza vaccination in inflammatory CNS disorder treated with chronic
immunosuppression, 7 Eur. J. Neurology 731 (2000). A 42-year-old man with optic neuropathy
developed TM a few days after influenza vaccination. Ex. 72, at 1.
Exhibit 73 is an article entitled, “Vaccine-induced Autoimmunity.” A.D. Cohen et al.,
Vaccine-induced Autoimmunity, 9 J. Autoimmunity 699 (1996). The authors state that a number
of autoimmune disorders have occurred two to four weeks after vaccination. Ex. 73, at 1.
Exhibit 74 is a case report in the form of a letter entitled, “Optic neuritis and myelitis
after booster tetanus toxoid vaccination.” H. Topaloglu et al., Optic neuritis and myelitis after
booster tetanus toxoid vaccination, 339 Lancet 178 (1992). An 11-year-old girl had rapid onset
of visual deterioration and weakness three days after tetanus toxoid vaccination. Ex. 74, at 1.
Although the undersigned has not described all the submissions of medical literature, the
undersigned has reviewed them.
TESTIMONY
The first part of the hearing on July 11, 2012, began with Special Master Zane’s
summary of the issue in the case: whether or not petitioner had GBS or some other neurological
disease caused by her Td vaccination of September 6, 2007. Tr. at 5. The second part of the
hearing began on July 20, 2012. The transcript pagination is continuous from the first part
through the second part of the hearing.
Petitioner testified first. Tr. at 7. On September 6, 2007, while exiting her place of
employment, she pricked her finger on a screw, got a Band-Aid from a secretary, and went
home. Id. at 10. Later that night, she went to the hospital and received a tetanus shot. Id. This
was about 10:00 p.m., and it took about an hour to get home. Id. at 11. She woke up the next
day, Friday, at around 4:30 a.m. to go to work and had a slight headache. Id. She did not feel
well about mid-morning and left for home after lunch. Id. at 12. She went to her auditing job
that night but stayed only about an hour or an hour and one-half. Id. On Saturday, she did not
feel well, and her husband took her to the ER. Id. at 13. She felt fatigued and had a headache.
Id. The ER physician diagnosed her with a urinary tract infection and gave her two
prescriptions. Id. She went for an hour to her night job. Id. at 14. After she went to bed, she
got up at 2:30 or 3:00 a.m. on Sunday to use the bathroom and then went to the kitchen to get
some grapes, but she lost her balance and slid to the floor with the refrigerator door open. Id. at
15. She yelled for her husband and sons to help her, but they did not hear her. Id. Before 5:00
a.m., her daughter came downstairs to make a bottle for her baby girl and discovered her on the
14
kitchen floor. Id. at 16. Petitioner could not get up, and her daughter got her brothers to help
her. Id. She slept most of the day. Id. Her family took her back to the ER when her husband
came home. Id.
On cross-examination, petitioner denied she had tingling, lower extremity weakness,
body aches, or muscle aches during the first 24 hours after her Td vaccination. Id. at 30. When
shown the ER records of September 8, 2007, in which she gave a history of aching all over,
fever, and cough that started the day before (September 7, 2007), petitioner replied, “Well, it
states here that that’s what I said, but I don’t remember.” Id. at 32. When advised that the ER
document had circles for “Review of Symptoms” indicating fever, chills, generalized weakness,
problems urinating, and frequent urination, petitioner replied, “Like I said, I don’t remember, but
it’s here on this paperwork, so evidently.” Id. at 33. When shown under the category “Chief
Complaint” at the ER on September 8, 2007, “Body aches and joint aches, fever. Started
Thursday. PT [patient] was here Thursday night for TD shot, and Friday she started not feeling
good,” petitioner replied, “That’s what it says here. I don’t remember, but that’s what it says
here.” Id. at 35. Petitioner did not recall giving the ER staff all the information in their records,
e.g., that her legs had been weak, and she had been aching for three days. Id. at 38.
On September 9, 2008, petitioner saw Dr. McCluskey, the worker’s compensation doctor.
Id. at 60. The report states the interview lasted from 10:00 a.m. to 12:50 p.m. or almost three
hours. Id. Petitioner stated it was a lengthy visit, but she was not sure of the time. Id. She
recalled talking with Dr. McCluskey for several hours. Id. at 61. She denied that she had
tingling toes or fingers on Friday, September 7, 2007. Id. at 64. Her main complaint on Friday
was headache. Id. She said that she did not report tingling until Sunday, September 10, 2007.
Id. at 65.
Dr. William Triggs, a neurologist, testified for petitioner. Id. at 132. Demyelinating
disorders are his subspecialty, and he is also an electromyographer. Id. at 134. He opined that
petitioner received Td vaccine and, then, between 48 and 72 hours later, developed transverse
myelitis. Id. at 180. To explain the basis for his opinion that Td vaccine caused petitioner’s TM,
Dr. Triggs stated it was an autoimmune event and that this was his “educated speculation.” Id.
He said autoimmunity is not well understood: “I mean, we don’t know.” Id. Dr. Triggs stated no
one understands how or why the immune system goes awry. Id. at 181. He said there is still a
lot that remains to be understood about it. Id. He did not think petitioner had an infectious
etiology at the time, which would be an alternative cause, although if she had an infection, the
cause could be both the infection and the vaccine. Id. at 183. He could not testify that molecular
mimicry was definitely the mechanism here. Id. at 250. Molecular mimicry is a very popular
theory for autoimmunity, but autoimmunity is probably much more complicated than that. Id.
Molecular mimicry is an oversimplification for which we have some isolated examples in the
field of immunology. Id. Other than petitioner having an immune response that targeted a part
of her spinal cord, he could not be more specific. Id. at 260. Dr. Triggs would call it “just
myelitis as opposed to transverse [myelitis].” Id. at 310. Technically, petitioner did not have
transverse myelitis “because it didn’t affect completely every neurological function at a level.”
15
Id. at 316. She had an inflammatory lesion of her spinal cord. Id. She had a mild or partial
myelitis. Id. at 321. Giving “an educated speculation,” Dr. Triggs said the way the immune
system affects the cord produces a variable degree of swelling. Id. at 322. The immune system,
not swelling, destroys tissue. Id.
Dr. Triggs thought petitioner’s lesion was at the bottom part of the spinal cord in the
conus medullaris. Id. at 330. The neural structures that control bladder function are in the conus
medullaris, which is also the origin of nerve roots for the lower extremities. Id. Dr. Triggs said,
“I’m hanging up on demyelination. I’m not convinced that the injury to her cord was necessarily
demyelination. In fact, I think if it was demyelination, her outcome might have been better, and
it’s more likely an MRI would have been abnormal. So the immune system doesn’t attack the
cord necessarily by producing demyelination . . . although that’s certainly one mechanism.” Id.
at 339. He opined that the vaccine caused an immune-mediated injury to petitioner’s spinal cord.
Id. An onset of less than 24 hours would cause Dr. Triggs “to squirm a little . . . from [his]
limited knowledge of immunology.” Id. at 340. But as a clinician, he said he believes that if
there is no other immune stimulation occurring in his patient and his patient gets myelitis, if the
onset interval is 23 hours, he would not say it absolutely cannot be the vaccine. Id. He said he
could not give a specific immunological mechanism because he is not an immunologist or a
neuroimmunologist. Id. He said he thinks a two- or three-day onset is okay for causation. Id. at
341.
Dr. Triggs considered the onset of petitioner’s neurological condition to be September 9,
2007. Id. at 210. He agreed that pain radiating in the legs and inability to void can be
neurological signs. Id. at 211. Petitioner gave a history on September 9, 2007 that she had a
several-day history of aching all over, and weak legs for three days, which is consistent with
GBS or transverse myelitis. Id. at 213–14. Even if the onset of petitioner’s neurologic problems
occurred one day after her Td vaccination, Dr. Triggs said he would still opine that the vaccine
was the cause. Id. at 243. He explained causation as autoimmune, but he could not tell if it
involved molecular mimicry or some sort of super antigen phenomenon. Id. at 260. He said he
could not cite specific evidence that this immune process could occur within less than 24 hours.
Id. at 261. Dr. Triggs said that when petitioner went to the ER on September 8, 2007, her urinary
tract infection was not the correct primary diagnosis. Id. at 297. She was having a reaction to
the vaccine and was feeling muscle aches, joint aches, and low-grade fever. Id. He said he did
not know if this was a neurological reaction. Id. at 298. He could not separate out the urinary
tract infection from the vaccination as causal of petitioner’s neurological condition. Id. at 300.
Dr. Triggs said an onset on September 8 would not bother him, but an onset on September 7
would become a little more problematic based on his knowledge of animal immunology. Id. at
307. But if he had a patient asking about causation, and he had no other cause but the vaccine to
consider, he would probably say that a vaccine caused a one-day reaction. Id. He said less than
24 hours becomes more problematic if you look at animal data and immunology. Id. at 307–08.
Dr. Triggs would not attribute petitioner’s leg weakness and urinary retention to something other
than a neurological condition. Id. at 317.
16
Dr. Thomas P. Leist, a neurologist, testified for respondent. Id. at 350. When petitioner
was in the ER on September 8, 2007, she had a normal white cell count. Id. at 362. On
September 9, 2007, her white cell count had increased to 11,100, and she had an elevated
erythrocyte sedimentation rate. Id. Her significantly elevated white cell count had lymphocytic
predominance. Id. The elevated white cell count, lymphocytic predominance in the white cells,
and elevated erythrocyte sedimentation rate are all congruent with a possible viral infection. Id.
In transverse myelitis generally, the peripheral white cell count is not increased. Id. at 363.
Dr. Leist said he thinks petitioner had a viral meningoradiculitis. Id. at 369.
Meningoradiculitis is a process between transverse myelitis and Guillain-Barré syndrome. Id. at
365–66. Meningoradiculitis principally involves the nerve roots and the spinal cord. Id. at 366.
Dr. Leist said he does not believe tetanus vaccine could cause petitioner to develop a
demyelinating or neurologic condition within one day. Id. at 377. It would take days for the
immune process to begin. Id. at 378. Dr. Leist thought the shortest time period for a cross-
reactive immune response to manifest would be five days. Id. at 378. Petitioner’s medical
records show that her symptoms began on September 7, 2007. Id. She did not feel well, cut
short her work hours, contacted her supervisor, and reported the next day, September 8, 2007, to
the ER personnel that she had generalized malaise and urinary symptoms. Id. Dr. Leist said that
the urinary symptoms were an indication that she had bladder dysfunction, not a urinary tract
infection. Id. Dr. Leist disagreed with Dr. Triggs’ interpretation that petitioner had a separate
urinary tract infection with urinary retention following it. Id. at 378–79. Dr. Leist viewed the
bladder presentation on September 7 as the same as the bladder presentation on September 8. Id.
at 379. The process affecting the central or radicular nerve root was already established on
September 8. Id. Therefore, petitioner’s symptoms began on September 7, within the first 24
hours after petitioner’s vaccination. Id. Petitioner’s bladder symptoms on September 8 are
congruent with urinary retention and can be viewed as a neurological symptom. Id. at 380. This
is a single process, presenting to the ER on September 8 at about 6:00 p.m. and returning to the
ER on September 9 at around 3:00 p.m. Id.
Dr. Leist said that an autoimmune process takes time. Id. at 502. A cross-reactive
immune response needs to get into the central nervous system, where it encounters the cross-
reactive antigen and is restimulated. Id. Dr. Leist said he did not think it was possible for such
an onset after vaccination to occur within two days. Id. at 503. After the injection of the
vaccine, T-cells respond to this antigen. Id. Then the response has to be transported into the
central nervous system. Id. First, the cells go in, and then they need to attract additional
lymphocytes in order to cause a local tissue injury, which also takes time. Id. at 503–04. It is
highly unlikely to occur in two days. Id. at 504.
DISCUSSION
To satisfy her burden of proving causation in fact, petitioner must prove by preponderant
evidence: “(1) a medical theory causally connecting the vaccination and the injury; (2) a logical
sequence of cause and effect showing that the vaccination was the reason for the injury; and (3) a
17
showing of a proximate temporal relationship between vaccination and injury.” Althen v. Sec’y
of HHS, 418 F.3d 1274, 1278 (Fed. Cir. 2005). In Althen, the Federal Circuit quoted its opinion
in Grant v. Secretary of Health and Human Services, 956 F.2d 1144, 1148 (Fed. Cir. 1992):
A persuasive medical theory is demonstrated by “proof of a logical
sequence of cause and effect showing that the vaccination was the
reason for the injury[,]” the logical sequence being supported by
“reputable medical or scientific explanation[,]” i.e., “evidence in
the form of scientific studies or expert medical testimony[.]”
Without more, “evidence showing an absence of other causes does not meet petitioners’
affirmative duty to show actual or legal causation.” Grant, 956 F.2d at 1149. Mere temporal
association is not sufficient to prove causation in fact. Id. at 1148.
Petitioner must show not only that but for her Td vaccination, she would not have had
TM, but also that the vaccine was a substantial factor in causing her TM. Shyface v. Sec’y of
HHS, 165 F.3d 1344, 1352 (Fed. Cir. 1999).
The Vaccine Act does not permit the undersigned to rule in favor of petitioner based
solely on her allegations unsupported by medical records or credible medical opinion. 42 U.S.C.
§ 300aa-13(a)(1).
The undersigned has no difficulty accepting that tetanus vaccine can cause transverse
myelitis. Petitioners have prevailed in cases in which they alleged that tetanus vaccine caused
their TM. See, e.g., Roberts v. Sec’y of HHS, No. 09-427V, 2013 WL 5314698, at *1 (Fed. Cl.
Spec. Mstr. Aug. 29, 2013) (four-week onset); Helman v. Sec’y of HHS, No. 10-813V, 2012 WL
1607142, at *3 (Fed. Cl. Spec. Mstr. Apr. 5, 2012) (three-week onset; respondent elected not to
defend the case); Bowes v. Sec’y of HHS, No. 01-481V, 2006 WL 2849816, at *3 (Fed. Cl.
Spec. Mstr. Sept. 8, 2006) (two-week onset). Petitioner has satisfied prong one of Althen.
Before discussing prong two of Althen, it is essential to discuss prong three because this
case hinges on timing. Petitioner’s expert, Dr. Triggs, stated in his initial expert report that
petitioner had transverse myelitis, which he described as an “immune-mediated demyelinating
disorder.” Ex. 28, at 5. He later changed his opinion, testifying at the hearing that petitioner had
an inflammatory lesion of her spinal cord, a partial myelitis. Tr. at 316. He also testified he was
“hanging up on demyelination” because he was not convinced petitioner had demyelination. Tr.
at 339. He did not know what the medical theory was connecting Td vaccine to transverse
myelitis. Because of the difference between his expert report and his testimony, the undersigned
ordered petitioner to file a supplemental expert report from Dr. Triggs. In this supplemental
report, Dr. Triggs identifies the onset of petitioner’s TM as 54 hours after vaccination, or just
over two days. Ex. 70, at 4.
18
Interestingly, in Dr. Triggs’ initial expert report, he emphasizes that petitioner had early
manifestation of her TM with urinary bladder dysfunction as one of the bases for his opinion that
she had TM and not GBS. Ex. 28, at 5. But he ignores in his expert report that the onset of
petitioner’s urinary bladder dysfunction was on September 7, 2007, within one day of her receipt
of Td vaccine (which she received at 11:10 p.m. on September 6, 2007). Med. recs. Ex. 5, at
141. She gave a history on September 8, 2007 at the Florida Hospital ER of bodily aching,
generalized weakness, frequent urination, fever, and chills since September 7, 2007. Id. On the
one hand, Dr. Triggs focuses on petitioner’s urinary tract infection as proof in his expert report
that petitioner had TM, not GBS, but on the other hand, he ignores that this proof includes a one-
day onset from the Td vaccination. This September 8, 2007 history of onset of urinary
dysfunction starting on September 7, 2007 is petitioner’s earliest contemporaneous recounting of
her symptomatology and its onset. At hearing, Dr. Triggs pinpointed the location of petitioner’s
lesion as in her conus medullaris, which is at the bottom part of the spinal cord, where the neural
structures that control bladder function are and where the nerve roots for the lower extremities
originate. Tr. at 330. This very location indicates that the lesion led to petitioner’s urinary
dysfunction, the onset of her TM.
Respondent’s expert Dr. Leist testified that petitioner’s urinary dysfunction is basic to her
evolving neurologic disease that he opines is due to a viral infection. He terms her neurologic
disease as meningoradiculitis (involving both the spinal cord and the nerve roots). In focusing
on the bladder dysfunction, Dr. Leist’s opinion is consonant with Dr. Triggs’ opinion in his
initial report (before Dr. Triggs changed his opinion at the hearing to view the bladder
dysfunction as unrelated to petitioner’s TM).
Dr. Triggs’ testimony about onset is similarly discordant. Although he testified that he
would be unlikely to support a one-day onset based on his understanding of animal studies, he
then concluded that a one-day onset was acceptable because there was no other factor that could
have caused petitioner’s TM. He omitted the possibility of an alternative cause—a urinary tract
infection unrelated to her vaccination, which he had previously mentioned in his testimony. In
contrast to Dr. Triggs’ conclusion that there was no other factor that could have caused
petitioner’s TM, respondent’s expert Dr. Leist opined there was a factor unrelated to the tetanus
vaccine that caused petitioner’s illness. Dr. Leist noted that petitioner had a significantly
elevated white blood count consisting of lymphocytes and an elevated erythrocyte sedimentation
rate, which are not indicia of TM but are indicia of a viral infection. In fact, two of petitioner’s
treating physicians opined that she had a viral meningitis or enterovirus 71 infection. However,
the initial burden is on petitioner, not respondent. Because the undersigned does not hold that
petitioner has satisfied her burden of proving an appropriate causal interval between tetanus
vaccination and her neurologic illness, the burden does not shift to respondent to prove a known
factor unrelated to the vaccine caused petitioner’s illness.
The Federal Circuit has addressed the short onset of a demyelinating central nervous
system disease after tetanus vaccination as preventing a petitioner from satisfying her burden of
proof. De Bazan v. Sec’y of HHS, 539 F.3d 1347 (Fed. Cir. 2008). In De Bazan, petitioner
19
alleged her acute disseminated encephalomyelitis (“ADEM”) occurred eleven hours after her
tetanus vaccination. Id. at 1349–50. ADEM is an autoimmune disorder affecting the central
nervous system. Id. at 1350, n.1. Petitioner became a quadriplegic. Id. at 1350. The testimony
of respondent’s expert at the hearing concerned the brevity of the eleven-hour onset interval.
The special master held that petitioner’s onset was too soon to be appropriate for vaccine
causation. However, a judge on the Court of Federal Claims reversed the special master’s
dismissal, concluding that petitioner had established a prima facie case. The Federal Circuit
reversed, finding no error in the special master’s conclusion that an eleven-hour onset was too
soon to connote causation. The Federal Circuit stated that a petitioner must provide
“preponderant proof that the onset of symptoms occurred within a timeframe for which, given
the medical understanding of the disorder’s etiology, it is medically acceptable to infer
causation-in-fact.” Id. at 1352. Since eleven hours was not sufficient time to produce molecules
responsible for myelin destruction, the onset interval in De Bazan was inappropriate for
causation. Id. at 1353, 1354.
Consonant with the recognition in the medical community that an autoimmune
mechanism takes time to manifest is the Tezzon article (Ex. 47), which describes a woman who
had TM three weeks after tetanus toxoid vaccine. Ex. 47, at 2. The authors state that the process
for the vaccine injury should take days to manifest in order to enable the antibody movement or
cell-mediated mechanism to result in the neurologic illness. They report cases involving
neurologic illness after vaccination ranging from three to twenty days. Id. at 3. The case reports
petitioner filed in the instant action list onset of TM from two days to weeks after vaccination.
Medical literature, even in the form of case reports, does not support a one-day onset of TM.
Petitioner has failed to satisfy the third prong of Althen because an onset of TM one day
after tetanus vaccination is too soon to support vaccine causation. Because petitioner has failed
to satisfy the third prong of Althen, she has also failed to satisfy the second prong of Althen, i.e.,
that tetanus vaccine did cause her TM in this case. This petition is hereby DISMISSED.
CONCLUSION
Petitioner’s petition is DISMISSED. In the absence of a motion for review filed
pursuant to RCFC Appendix B, the clerk of the court is directed to enter judgment herewith.5
IT IS SO ORDERED.
June 23, 2014 s/Laura D. Millman
DATE Laura D. Millman
Special Master
5
Pursuant to Vaccine Rule 11(a), entry of judgment can be expedited by each party, either
separately or jointly, filing a notice renouncing the right to seek review.
20