A.F. v. HHS - Pneumococcal, opsoclonus myoclonus syndrome (2016)

K.O., on behalf of her minor son A.F., filed a petition alleging that the pneumococcal conjugate (PCV) vaccine administered on July 14, 2010, caused A.F. to develop opsoclonus myoclonus syndrome (OMS). K.O. claimed the onset of OMS symptoms occurred around August 25, 2010.

The petitioner's expert, Dr. Spencer Weig, a pediatric neurologist, opined that the PCV vaccine triggered OMS through molecular mimicry, with an onset date of August 25, 2010.

The respondent, the Secretary of Health and Human Services, presented the opinion of neurologist Dr. Eric Lancaster.

Dr. Lancaster argued that the onset of OMS was later, on August 28, 2010, and that a furuncle infection was a more plausible trigger than the vaccine.

The Special Master, Christian J. Moran, found that the petitioner failed to establish a reliable medical theory connecting the PCV vaccine to OMS.

The public decision does not describe the specific homology or lack thereof between the vaccine and brain tissue, nor does it detail the specific antigens involved in the molecular mimicry theory. Furthermore, the Special Master determined that the onset of A.F.'s symptoms, even under the petitioner's most favorable interpretation of August 25, 2010, occurred 45 days after vaccination, which fell outside the medically acceptable interval of 42 days.

The Special Master noted that the medical records indicated A.F. experienced constipation on August 25, 2010, and that the irritability subsided after a bowel movement, suggesting constipation as the cause of irritability rather than OMS. The decision also noted that A.F. had a furuncle infection approximately 17 days before the proposed August 28, 2010 onset date, which Dr.

Lancaster considered a more plausible trigger than the vaccine. Because the petitioner did not prove either a reliable theory of causation or an acceptable temporal relationship, the petition was denied.

There was no award of compensation. The case was originally filed on July 7, 2016, and the decision was reissued on January 3, 2017.

Ronald C. Homer and Meredith Daniels represented the petitioner, and Heather L.

Pearlman represented the respondent.