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Guillain-Barré Syndrome/Fisher Syndrome“A study led by Dr. Christopher Verity, Consultant Paediatric Neurologist at Addenbrooke's Hospital, has been set up to identify new cases of Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS) and Fisher Syndrome (FS). GBS and FS are part of a spectrum of disorders that affect the peripheral nervous system causing weakness in different parts of the body. There is evidence that these disorders result from various abnormalities in the function of the immune system. GBS was an identified risk with swine flu vaccines used in the United States in 1976 - it is thought that 1 extra case of GBS occurred with every 100,000 doses of vaccine. The exact reason why the 1976 vaccine increased the risk of GBS remains unknown. Since then many studies have looked for an association between other influenza vaccines and GBS and no robust evidence of a risk has been found. Recent epidemiological research in the UK found no evidence of an increased risk of GBS after seasonal influenza vaccine but there was an increased risk after influenza like illness. It is therefore possible that even if swine influenza vaccines do cause GBS, this risk may be offset by the protection they offer against influenza itself. In order to inform national and international policy on the risks of the disease and safety profile of swine influenza vaccines, a 'real time' surveillance system for GBS/FS is urgently needed. Reporting every case of GBS irrespective of vaccination or disease history is essential to determine whether or not there is an increased risk of GBS in defined time periods after vaccination, or after influenza itself, compared with the background risk. The aim of this study is to identify new paediatric GBS/FS cases using the British Paediatric Surveillance Unit (BPSU) methodology. The team is working closely with the Health Protection Agency (HPA) who is also conducting active prospective surveillance for GBS in the adult population in collaboration with the British Neurological Surveillance Unit. The results obtained by us and the HPA will be analysed and shared with the Department of Health." Please contact the Press Office at the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health for further details.. Ms Claire Brunert, Press Office |
| © 2008 BPSU Last updated September 2009 |
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