Does Vaccination Raise Acute Disseminated Encephalomyelitis Risk?

Vaccination does not appear to increase the risk or recurrence of acute disseminated encephalomyelitis (ADEM), according to the results of a recent study.

The researchers conducted a nested case-control study between January 2011 and December 2015 in which 4 controls (n = 1096) per case (n = 272) were matched for age, gender, and address. Vaccination records were used to obtain data on vaccination status.

IF YOU LIKE THIS, READ MORE...

Vaccine Exemption Rate Corresponds With Disease Outbreaks

Flu Vaccination More Likely in Children With a Provider Recommendation

Overall, no increase in the risk of ADEM was observed in participants vaccinated with the hepatitis B, influenza, polio(live), diphtheria, pertussis(acellular), tetanus, measles, mumps, rubella, Japanese Encephalitis, meningitis, hepatitis A, varicella, and rabies vaccines.

While vaccination was associated with a significant increase in risk in the 31–60-day exposure interval, it was not associated with increased risk in the 0–30-day exposure and 61–180-day exposure interval. No association was observed between vaccination and ADEM recurrence.

“Findings from the present study do not demonstrate an association of vaccines with an increased risk of ADEM and its recurrence among either pediatric (≤18 years) or adult (>18 years) individuals within the 180 days after vaccinations. The finding in children in the 31–60 day risk interval is likely coincidental and was not confirmed in separate self-control analyses,” the researchers concluded.

—Michael Potts

Reference:

Chen Y, Ma F, Xu Y, et al. Vaccines and the risk of acute disseminated encephalomyelitis. Vaccine. 2018;36(26):3733-3739.