The Mediterranean Journal of
Surgery and Medecine
Lo studio in English, continua in:
Pag.1
Pag.2 Pag.
4
Bibliografia
Lo studio in
Italiano, continua in:
Pag. 1 +
Pag.3 +
Pag.4 +
Pag. 5
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Thirty patients were observed during the period
1994-1995, all from different areas of Italy, who had history of seizures starting at the
time of or immediately after vaccination. All of them developed CNS disease which was also
associated with dermatitis, food allergy, constipation and rectal bleeding. None of cases
had signs of viral encephalopathy due to transplacental viral infection and all of them
where asymptomatic until the first immunisation dose.
Patients who presented with symptoms unrelated to vaccines, were excluded from the
study.
All patients were tested for metabolic diseases, CAT scan and NMR of brain, genetic
study, tissue typing (HLA A, B, C, HLA DR-DQ), viral serology (CMV, EBV, VZV, HSV l~ and
20), immunoglobulin assay and subclass of lymphocytes. Other tests needed for a specific
diagnosis were also performed.
Patients included in the study had previous diagnosis of epilepsy, myoclonic
epilepsy, evolutive encephalopathy, epieptogenic encephalopathy, autism, West and Angelman
syndromes.
The initial symptoms which presented immediately after mandatory immunisation
included seizures, high fever and diarrhoea which were promptly reported by parents to
health care operators. These patients had consultation with paediatricians and
neuropsychiatrists who requested an EEG. However, the vaccine program was resumed and
followed by progressive deterioration of clinical conditions.
Data relative to HLA antigens frequency in Italian normal population where obtained
at the 1 lth International Histocompability Workshop ancl Conference.
Statistical analysis was perforrned with X2 of Svejgrada (3)
RESULTS
Infants 3 to 9 months old were the most affected. All
patients had negative metabolic and genetic work-up. Also the CAT scan and NMR of the
brain obtained when initial symptoms appeared were negative (Table 1).
The EEG performed when initial symptoms appeared.
TABLE 1
SOCIAL AND CLINICAL CHARACTERISTCS OF PATIENTS ENROLLED IN THE STUDY |
Patient
(initials) |
Sex |
City |
Date of
Birth |
Diagnosis |
Age of
Presentation |
| V.D. |
F |
SALERNO |
26.01.93 |
EPILEPSY |
3 m |
| S.M. |
F |
BARI |
24.04.50 |
EPILEPSY |
32 yrs |
| M.P. |
F |
SALERNO |
08.02.93 |
WEST SYNDROM |
3 m |
| N.P. |
F |
ROMA |
25.07.91 |
EPILEPSY |
3 m |
| C.F. |
F |
LECCE |
10.06.92 |
EPILEPSY |
8 m |
| V.F. |
M |
LECCE |
19.04.91 |
EPILEPSY |
3 yrs |
| S.G. |
F |
CUNEO |
31.12.91 |
EPILEPSY |
3 m |
| C.M. |
F |
BARI |
27.03.82 |
EPILEPSY |
3 m |
| S.G. |
M |
MILANO |
27.03.61 |
EPILPSY |
30 yrs |
| G.A. |
M |
CASERTA |
21.03.82 |
EPILEPSY |
3 m |
| M.F. |
M |
ROMA |
01.02.79 |
EPILEPSY |
3 m |
| S.R. |
F |
LECCE |
25.08.89 |
EPILEPSY |
3 m |
| M.S. |
F |
FOGGIA |
13.09.92 |
EPILEPSY |
3 m |
| D.A.R. |
F |
NAPOLI |
23.12.78 |
EPILEP+CELIAC |
3 m |
| S.A. |
M |
CAMPOBASSO |
08.12.86 |
EPILEPSY |
3 m |
| S.J. |
F |
BARI |
14.06.92 |
EPILEPSY |
3 m |
| P.L. |
M |
MANTOVA |
09.11.76 |
EPILEPSY |
3 m |
| D.S.M. |
F |
LECCE |
17.07.90 |
EPILEP+ANGELMAN |
9 m |
| S.L. |
F |
TORINO |
30.08.88 |
EPILEPSY |
3 m |
| C.M. |
F |
BARI |
28.02.92 |
EPILEPSY |
3 m |
| A.M. |
F |
NAPOLI |
15.07.77 |
EPILEPSY |
3 m |
| M.E. |
F |
CAGLIARI |
21.12.88 |
EPILEPSY |
3 m |
| V.R. |
M |
LECCE |
08.10.82 |
EPILEP+AUTISM |
9 m |
| N.A.R. |
F |
CHIETI |
10.05.60 |
EPILEPSY |
12 yrs |
| B.F. |
F |
VENEZIA |
22.04.84 |
EPILEPSY |
3 m |
| V.P. |
F |
CAGLIARI |
16.12.74 |
EPILEPSY |
3 m |
| S.M. |
M |
TARANTO |
21.06.90 |
EPILEPSY |
3 m |
| R.M. |
M |
PADOVA |
27.05.71 |
EPILEP+AUTISM |
3 m |
| M.G. |
M |
PALERMO |
08.04.93 |
EPIL+WESTSYND |
3 m |
| R.R. |
F |
NAPOLI |
20.11.90 |
WEST SYNDROM |
3 m |
