Introduction

The association of Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) with vaccination has been described but is infrequent and, in many settings, is controversial. A small but statistically significant elevated risk of GBS was noted among swine flu vaccinees relative to non vaccinees in 1976 [1].

The influenza vaccine in the 1992 to 1994 vaccine campaign was associated with a very small increased risk, of one GBS case per million vaccinees. Hepatitis vaccinations were also suggested to be associated with GBS [1]. The association of tetanus vaccination and GBS is documented in only a few case reports (1-5).

Case presentation

A 40-year-old Caucasian man fell from a second story roof. He sustained a small right temporal epidural hematoma, a nondisplaced right temporal scalp fracture and a zygomatic arch fracture. His neurological examination was normal.

A tetanus toxoid, reduced diphtheria toxoid and acellular pertussis vaccine (Tdap; Boostrix) was administered. He was managed conservatively and discharged home one week later.

A few days after his discharge, our patient experienced weakness and numbness in his legs, which progressed to involve his arms. Three weeks after his initial fall, he was readmitted to our hospital with severe weakness. His muscle strength was 2/5 in his lower extremities and 3/5 in his upper extremities. His deep tendon reflexes were absent at his ankles and knees and were diminished in his upper extremities. There was bilateral peripheral facial paresis, bulbar weakness and impaired gag reflex. He had diminished touch and pin prick sensation in a stocking glove distribution.

His vital capacity was reduced to 1.4 liters. Magnetic resonance imaging of his brain and spinal cord were unremarkable. A lumbar puncture revealed a cerebrospinal fluid protein of 790 mg/dL and one white blood cell.

We diagnosed GBS. Nerve conduction studies revealed prolongation of the upper and lower motor action potential latencies, reduced motor conduction velocities and reduced amplitude. Median and ulnar nerves sensory action potentials were absent. Our patient was treated with intravenous immunoglobulin and his muscle strength improved. Three months later he continued to have tingling in his hands and feet and use a walker intermittently.

Discussion

The association of tetanus toxoid containing vaccines and GBS is documented in a small number of case reports, outlined in Table 1 [1–5].

Table 1 Cases describing the association of tetanus vaccination and GBS.
Full size table

The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practice considers development of GBS less than six weeks after receiving a tetanus toxoid-containing vaccine a precaution for subsequent tetanus toxoid-containing vaccinations.

The Institute of Medicine favored the acceptance of causal relationship between tetanus toxoid-containing vaccine and GBS based on a single documented case report [2]. A subsequent analysis estimated the number of cases of GBS observed after a tetanus toxoid-containing vaccine to be less than the number caused by chance alone [1, 2].

Our patient didn't have diarrhea, fever, cough or chills in the weeks preceding his illness. The only recognized event was receiving the Tdap vaccine one week before his illness.

Conclusion

To the best of our knowledge, this is the first case of GBS to be reported in the English literature after administration of a Tdap vaccine.

Consent

Written informed consent was obtained from the patient for publication of this case report and any accompanying images. A copy of the written consent is available for review by the Editor-in-Chief of this journal.