The most commonly proposed mechanism for the development of autoimmune disease is molecular mimicry. This is a strong theory advocated by neurologist experts in arguing for the role of flu vaccination in the development of GBS. Molecular mimicry refers to a situation where the pathogen and host (ie. the human body) share nearly identical antigens, which induces an antibody and T cell immune response that is cross reactive, meaning the antibody reacts with similar sites across a wide spectrum of proteins. There are multiple ways in which an immune response can become cross-reactive. The strongest evidence for the molecular mimicry hypothesis has come from discoveries in research with jejuni strains, the most common pathogen associated with GBS.

A neurologist expert in a vaccine causation case will argue that it is substantially probable that the influenza vaccine triggered the immunological reaction that causes GBS or variant Miller Fisher Syndrome by molecular mimicry or non specific activation of the immune system. The immune system could recognize the vaccine and the victim may share nearly identical antigens, which induces an antibody and T cell immune response that is cross reactive. Many Special Masters, who review and decide GBS flu cases filed in the Court of Federal Claims, are aware of molecular mimicry, and the theory is generally widely accepted as a basis for causation. Lately, the Department of Health and Human Services has accepted the link between flu vaccine and GBS provided there is no evidence of an alterative form of causation such as a gastrointestinal or upper respiratory illness. Consequently, GBS flu cases are proceeding much more quickly through the Vaccine Injury Compensation Program without the need for neurology experts. Baseluos Law Firm is well versed in the handling of GBS flu vaccine injury cases, and has obtained settlements of several hundred thousand dollars each for individual claimants.

The Miller Fisher variant of GBS is also linked to the flu vaccine. In Miller Fischer, the victim develops ataxia (defined as the presence of abnormal, uncoordinated movements), ascending numbness, and facial palsy shortly after the influenza vaccination. The key distinguishing difference between GBS and the Miller Fischer variant is that while GBS victims experience descending numbness from their upper extremities, Miller Fischer victims experience ascending numbness originating from their lower extremities (legs , toes). Both GBS and the Miller Fischer variant can all develop after an antecedent infection and share a characteristic elevation of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) protein. An elevation in CSF proteins is often a tell tale marker of GBS, and lumbar punctures are the primary mechanism to identify the elevation. GBS victims often develop a disabling chronic fatigue syndrome, often manifesting itself as chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (CIDP). Their conditions are often compatible with the spectrum of acute inflammatory polyneuropathies with vaccination as the triggering factor.

In the course of recovery, the GBS victim will eventually walk without assistance. However, they may still continue to experience residual symptoms, including excessive fatigue, especially when exercising as well as fasciculations, which are brief, spontaneous contractions of the muscles. Michael Baseluos has witnessed GBS clients who even years after their initial vaccine injury, still experience paresthesia in both hands and easily fluctuating blood pressure and heart rate than prior to GBS. Rippling of the muscles under the eyelids and over the cheek along with intermittent diarrhea may also be present. White matter changes on the MRI is another tell tale sign of GBS sequelae, or long term consequences related to Guillain Barre. These findings are suggestive of autonomic dysfunction. There is no cure for the disorder, but several treatments can ease pain and reduce the duration of the illness. Most people recover completely from even the most severe cases of GBS. GBS survivors will return to some normalcy but these type of residual symptoms can still persist, forming a strong basis for compensation for future pain and suffering, income loss, and out of pocket medical costs.

In cases where the client was healthy before a flu shot, the government has a much more difficult time arguing that influenza infection, upper respiratory or gastrointestinal infection are the culprits behind Guillain Barre Syndrome. About two thirds of GBS cases have an antecedent infection within six weeks prior to symptom onset, generally an upper respiratory tract infection or gastroenteritis. Epstein-Barr virus, Mycoplasma pneumoniae, Campylobacter jejuni and cytomegalovirus, are some of the non-vaccine infectious agents.

Because vaccines affect the body at a micro level, it is impossible to know the exact mechanism by which they cause injury. We know GBS can be triggered not only by vaccines but also by a respiratory infection or the stomach flu. The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) which represents the government’s interest will often argue that a person’s GBS was triggered not by a vaccination but by a respiratory or gastrointestinal illness. A GBS lawyer like Mike Baseluos knows how to attack these arguments using strong neurologist experts. The key to success in a GBS vaccine injury case is to demonstrate the client had no antecedent upper respiratory or gastrointestinal infection within six weeks prior to symptom onset. Removing this argument creates a strong case where it becomes substantially probable that the flu vaccine for example is demonstrated to be the triggering factor for GBS similar to the one triggered by upper respiratory or gastrointestinal infection in non vaccination GBS patients. It should be noted that even in cases where the client did have an infection prior to GBS onset, arguments can be made on the timing element to demonstrate the vaccine, not the infection, was the most significant factor in causation.

BLF has fought for many clients who have developed GBS as a result of vaccinations, specifically the flu and TDaP vaccinations. Most if not all vaccinations are capable of producing Guillain Barre Syndrome. Often, the patient develops tingling in their fingers and toes which depending on the type of GBS can progress to upper or lower extremities and even the face. Victims of GBS complain of gait difficulties, generalized weakness and fatigue. Vaccination victims may complain of being off balance and having “spongy” feet.

Clients will often seek assistance from a medical center emergency room when their symptoms become extremely exacerbated and the tingling and numbness have become severe. Some medical doctors misdiagnose GBS as being psychosomatic or a product of anxiety. If this occurs, BLF advises that clients immediately demand a neurological examination as there are clear markers of GBS following vaccination. Blood work may be taken and in the case of respiratory failure due to paralysis, chest CT and chest CT angiograms will be taken to rule out pulmonary embolus. It is not uncommon for a client to be released from a hospital on a misdiagnosis only to return a few days later when symptoms have progressed, and the client now suffers from intermittent double vision, major fatigue and unsteady gait. Numbness and tingling from Guillain Barre can progress to affect the lower, trunk, upper extremities and face including the tongue.

Often, a GBS victim of vaccination will consult with their primary care physician with several complaints including diffuse numbness and bobbling head. Neurological assessment is often significant for slurred speech, difficulty with walking, hyporeflexic deep tendon reflexes and unsteady gait. The primary care doctor may refer the patient for a neurological consultation which may indicate tingling progression, weakness and unbalance following influenza vaccination (or other types of vaccines). The accepted timeline to prove that the vaccinations caused GBS is approximately 2-6 weeks following injection, although it is not unheard of to contract GBS earlier or later than this time frame. For example, Michael Baseluos has obtained compensation for GBS following only 1 week after vaccination and as high as 8 weeks after vaccination. The Court of Federal Claims which oversees vaccine claims generally has not found causation in cases where the person immediately developed GBS 24-48 hours after vaccination or more than 2 months after vaccination. That being said, each case is different and you should not assume you are not entitled to compensation. Immediately contact a GBS vaccine injury attorney to assess your rights.

Nerve conduction studies are an excellent way to gauge damages from GBS injuries in order to maximize a damage award with the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program. EMG studies can demonstrate demyelination or amplitude drop that suggest variations on GBS including a more severe form of acute inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (AIDP). Abnormal electrodiagnostic studies are an excellent tool used by Baseluos Law Firm for Guillain Barre Clients.

Other studies have confirmed a causal relationship between the 1976 swine influenza vaccine and GBS onset in the adult population. According to the Vaccine Adverse Events Reporting System (VAERS), there was an increase in GBS reports in 1992-1993 and 1993-1994 associated with the influenza vaccine, with data suggesting an increased risk within six (6) weeks following influenza vaccination. VAERS is a system employed by the United States for rapid reporting of adverse events following vaccination. The US Federal Court of Claims often inquires as to whether a VAERS report was filed following an adverse reaction to a vaccination.

An evaluation of trends of reports to VAERS of Guillain Barre Syndrome following the flu shot in adults reflected that there was a possible causal association between GBS and influenza vaccine. There was an average of onset of GBS about two (2) weeks after the vaccination and few cases of preexisting illnesses that could possibly explain the onset. A Guillain Barre vaccination injury lawyer will emphasize the timing of the onset of peak symptoms. Between 1990 through 2005, there were over one thousand (1000) cases of GBS reported after vaccination. In the majority of cases, symptoms appeared within six (6) weeks of vaccination. GBS cases were most prevalent following the influenza vaccine followed by the Hepatitis B vaccine.

For adults, there was a greater incidence of Guillain Barre under 65. The peak GBS symptoms appeared within two (2) weeks post vaccination. There appears to be a bell curve with greatest number of incidents reaching a peak at two (2) weeks with declining numbers approaching the six (6) week mark post vaccination. Over eight hundred (800) cases of GBS were reported in the US between 1990 through 2009 following the flu shot of which about half were men. more The vaccine compensation court deals with vaccine claims of which the majority have been GBS cases following the flu shot. For the most part, provided no preexisting upper reparatory or gastrointestinal illness, many individuals who were otherwise healthy before the flu shot will expect to receive some compensation for their GBS.

A neurologist will generally provide an expert report on the link between influenza and the flu shot. The special master in charge, who generally makes decisions as to causation and damages, will look at the expert report . The expert report will lay out a medical theory of causation between GBS and the flu vaccine. Molecular mimicry is often cited as a plausible medical theory. Next, the expert must explain why in the particular case, the medical theory is applicable. Finally, the expert comments on the timing of onset of GBS symptoms and how the specific case is applicable. It is helpful to show that the patient reached a peak of symptoms at the 2 weeks mark post vaccination in accordance with the VAERS data. If you have incurred GBS following influenza or hepatitis vaccination, immediately contact a GBS injury attorney , who can handle cases nationwide and is qualified to files cases in the Court of Claims.

There is great debate in the vaccine community about the link between the flu vaccination and Guillain Barre Syndrome. The Vaccine Court for the most part has accepted the theory that the influenza vaccination can replace upper respiratory or gastrointestinal infection as the triggering factor for GBS and the Miller Fischer variant of GBS. When filing a vaccine compensation claim, a GBS flu vaccine attorney will investigate the presence of any antecedent upper respiratory or gastrointestinal infection within six (6) weeks prior to symptom onset. Most individuals do report experiencing some form of infectious illness prior to developing Guillain Barre Syndrome. Almost 70% of GBS cases are associated with some prior acute infection by various bacterial viruses. In a flu GBS case, the influenza vaccine activates the immune system against components of the nervous system similar to activation by viral or bacterial infection in non-vaccinated GBS cases. Many experts believe that the most common mechanism for development of Guillain Barre Syndrome is molecular mimicry in which the body produces cross-reactive immune responses.

There are certain variations of GBS, the most prominent of which is known as the Miller Fisher variant. Patients with the Miller Fisher syndrome typically project symptoms of ataxia (gross lack of coordination of muscle movements), ascending numbness, and facial palsy and these symptoms can very well occur after taking the flu vaccine. A Guillain Barre injury lawyer will look at the possibility of any infections prior to the onset of Miller Fisher syndrome. Many GBS patients will develop a disabling chronic fatigue syndrome and sensitivity to heat that may become permanent.

The disabling fatigue can be particularly troublesome by interfering with activities of daily living and occupational duties. A vaccine compensation lawyer can make the argument that a person whose occupation is impaired by the fatigue syndrome deserves economic damages in addition to pain and suffering. Sometimes in filing a vaccine compensation claim , the government attorneys will try to challenge a Miller Fisher claim, claiming that there are differences between Miller Fischer and general GBS. An expert neurologist will be able to dispel this argument by showing there is no fundamental difference between the pathogenesis (development of the disease) of Guillain Barre Syndrome and the Miller Fisher variant.

Both disorders share similar patterns of evolution, recovery, and symptom characteristics. In our next blog entry, we will discuss more in detail how the influenza vaccination causes Guillain Barre Syndrome. If you suspect your GBS is linked to the flu shot, contact a flu shot vaccine injury attorney as soon as possible. There is no need to go a local attorney because a GBS flu injury firm can handle cases nationwide.

Finally, a good vaccine injury attorney will also seek to show other potential causes were not present. The most common way of demonstrating alternate causes are not applicable is to demonstrate via prior medical records that the petitioner did not suffer from any preexisting conditions. For example, in GBS flu vaccine injury cases, the lawyer will show via prior medical records that the injured party did not suffer from a preexisting upper respiratory or gastrointestinal infection that could cause GBS. Other key documents in a vaccine injury claim include a affidavit from the injured party regarding timing and severity of symptoms, medical records, diagnoses of treating doctors, and VAERS (Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System) data. To successfully obtain compensation, seek professional vaccine injury consultation immediately.

Many petitioners often find it difficult to get their treating providers to write an affidavit of causation linking the illness to the vaccine. Some treating providers do not feel qualified enough to make the connection, or they may have ties to the pharmaceutical industry, or they are leery of potential malpractice issues (although such fears are often unwarranted). In such cases, a vaccine injury attorney can draw on various experts including board certified neurologists, who can review the records and draft strong expert reports in favor of the petitioner. The special master also reviews the results of evaluative tests such as CAT scans and MRIs , especially as they regard abnormal effects of the vaccine on brain activity. It is important to note that such evaluations are not binding on the special master, but they are parts of the overall calculation. When relying on the Vaccine Injury Table , and whether the symptoms of injury occurred within the time period prescribed by the table, the special master carefully reviews the medical records to determine if whether the symptoms manifested themselves during the time period after the vaccine. A vaccine injury lawyer must demonstrate the petitioner did not exhibit symptoms of disability or conditions prior to administration of the vaccine. Documentation of medical injury and short-term and long-term pain and suffering and economic damages are keys to a successful vaccine lawsuit .