0
Article |

Possible Interactions Between Rabies Vaccination and a Progressive Degenerative CNS Disease

D. E. Britton, MD; S. A. Houff, MD; R. M. Eiben, MD
Arch Neurol. 1978;35(10):693-693. doi:10.1001/archneur.1978.00500340069015
Text Size: A A A
Published online

To the Editor.—  The similarities between postvaccinal encephalomyelitis and the progressive form of multiple sclerosis have been described.1-3 The following case illustrates the difficulties in separating these entities on clinical and laboratory grounds. A history of rabies vaccination four years prior to the onset of neurologic symptoms provides the interest for this letter.

Report ofa Case.—  A 24-year-old man had been bitten by a rabid cat at age 10 years and received 14 intra-abdominal injections of Semple vaccine, starting two days after the bite. No reactions to the vaccine were noted. It is not known whether the patient received equine serum immune globulin. Four years later, symptoms of a slowly progressive CNS disease developed, characterized initially by visual disturbances and dementia, followed by ataxia, abnormal involuntary movements, and a profound short-term memory loss after 19 years of age.

REFERENCES

McAlpine D, Lumsden CE, Achson ED: Multiple Sclerosis: A Reappraisal . Baltimore, Williams & Wilkins Co, 1972;.
McAlpine D, Compston ND, Lumsden CE: Multiple Sclerosis . Edinburgh, E & S Livingston Ltd, 1955;.
Kies MW, Alvord EC: Allergic Encephalomyelitis . Springfield, Ill, Charles C Thomas Publisher, 1959;.
Sever JL:  Application of a microtechnique to viral serologic investigations . J Immunol 88:320-324, 1962;.
Plotkin SA, Clark FH:  Committee on Immunization: Prevention of rabies in man . J Infect Dis 123:227-240, 1971;.
Shiraki H, Otani S:  Clinical and pathological features of rabies post-vaccinal encephalomyelitis , in Kies MW, Alvord EC (eds): Allergic Encephalomyelitis . Springfield, Ill, Charles C Thomas Publisher, 1959;, pp 58-129.
Zinchenko AP:  On the role of rabies virus in the etiology of multiple sclerosis and encephalomyelitis . Russ J Neuropathol Psychiatry 65:1634-1640, 1965;.

First Page Preview

First page PDF preview

Figures

Tables

Interactive Graphics

Video

Country-Specific Mortality and Growth Failure in Infancy and Yound Children and Association With Material Stature

Use interactive graphics and maps to view and sort country-specific infant and early dhildhood mortality and growth failure data and their association with maternal

McAlpine D, Lumsden CE, Achson ED: Multiple Sclerosis: A Reappraisal . Baltimore, Williams & Wilkins Co, 1972;.
McAlpine D, Compston ND, Lumsden CE: Multiple Sclerosis . Edinburgh, E & S Livingston Ltd, 1955;.
Kies MW, Alvord EC: Allergic Encephalomyelitis . Springfield, Ill, Charles C Thomas Publisher, 1959;.
Sever JL:  Application of a microtechnique to viral serologic investigations . J Immunol 88:320-324, 1962;.
Plotkin SA, Clark FH:  Committee on Immunization: Prevention of rabies in man . J Infect Dis 123:227-240, 1971;.
Shiraki H, Otani S:  Clinical and pathological features of rabies post-vaccinal encephalomyelitis , in Kies MW, Alvord EC (eds): Allergic Encephalomyelitis . Springfield, Ill, Charles C Thomas Publisher, 1959;, pp 58-129.
Zinchenko AP:  On the role of rabies virus in the etiology of multiple sclerosis and encephalomyelitis . Russ J Neuropathol Psychiatry 65:1634-1640, 1965;.

Correspondence

CME Course for:


You need to register in order to view this quiz.


To understand the clinical management of acute heart failure syndromes.
Accreditation Information The American Medical Association is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education to provide continuing medical education for physicians.
The AMA designates this journal-based CME activity for a maximum of 1 AMA PRA Category 1 CreditTM per course. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.
Physicians who complete the CME course and score at least 80% correct on the quiz are eligible for AMA PRA Category 1 CreditTM.
Note: You must get at least of the answers correct to pass this quiz.
Note: You must get at least of the answers correct to pass this quiz.
You have not filled in all the answers to complete this quiz
The following questions were not answered:
Sorry, you have unsuccessfully completed this CME quiz with a score of
The following questions were not answered correctly:
For CME Course: A Proposed Model for Initial Assessment and Management of Acute Heart Failure Syndromes
Indicate what changes(s) you will implement in your practice, if any, based on this CME course.
To view and print your certificate and access a summary of your CME courses go to My CME.
NOTE:
Citing articles are presented as examples only. In non-demo SCM6 implementation, integration with CrossRef’s “Cited By” API will populate this tab (http://www.crossref.org/citedby.html).
Submit a Comment

Some tools below are only available to our subscribers or users with an online account.

Related Content

Customize your page view by dragging & repositioning the boxes below.