Abstract

PEREZ NELLAR, Jesús. Neuralgic amyotrophy following vaccination against human leptospirosis. Rev Cubana Med Trop [online]. 2013, vol.65, n.3, pp.398-402. ISSN 0375-0760.

Introduction: neuralgic amyotrophy or Parsonage-Turner syndrome is associated with vaccination in 15% of cases. There are no reports linking this condition to the vaccine against human leptospirosis. Objective: describe the clinical characteristics of a patient who developed acute brachial plexopathy after vaccination against human leptospirosis. Case presentation: a male 31 year-old agricultural worker received a dose of the Cuban vaccine against human leptospirosis (vax-SPIRAL) in 2008. Three weeks later he presented intense pain in both shoulders. The following week he had muscular weakness, and then atrophy of the right deltoid muscle. Neurological evaluation showed acute asymmetric damage to the upper brachial plexus, with greater intensity on the right side, and involvement of the diaphragm. Nerve conduction examination and electromyography revealed involvement of the upper brachial plexus. The patient was treated with analgesics and physical therapy, and was found to evolve favorably. Conclusions: the events described suggest that the Cuban vaccine against human leptospirosis might produce immunological cross-reactivity against antigens of the peripheral nervous system.

Keywords : neuralgic amyotrophy; vaccination; human leptospirosis.

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