S.Y. v. HHS - Influenza, Evans syndrome, autoimmune hepatitis, pulmonary veno-occlusive disease (PVOD) (2020)
Case summary [AI summaries can sometimes make mistakes]
S.Y., a child born in October 2010, received influenza, MMR, varicella, and Prevnar vaccinations on October 17, 2011. The petitioners alleged that these vaccinations significantly aggravated S.Y.'s pre-existing, asymptomatic Evans syndrome, leading to autoimmune hepatitis and pulmonary veno-occlusive disease (PVOD).
Prior to vaccination, S.Y. was developing normally. Within an hour of vaccination, bloodwork revealed low platelet, hemoglobin, and hematocrit levels, which were later confirmed to be indicative of Evans syndrome, characterized by hemolytic anemia and thrombocytopenia.
Petitioners' expert, Dr. Gershwin, opined that the vaccines triggered a severe flare of S.Y.'s condition.
Respondent's experts, Drs. Matloubian and Gill, disagreed, stating that S.Y.'s condition was the natural progression of Evans syndrome.
The Special Master found that while the vaccines likely caused a short-term adverse response including fever, rash, and seizures, there was no logical or temporal association between the vaccinations and S.Y.'s long-term, severe course of Evans syndrome, autoimmune hepatitis, and PVOD. The Special Master denied entitlement, and this decision was affirmed on review by the Court of Federal Claims.
The case was dismissed.
Theory of causation
Petitioners alleged that the influenza, MMR, varicella, and Prevnar vaccinations administered on October 17, 2011, significantly aggravated S.Y.'s pre-existing Evans syndrome. Petitioners' expert, Dr. Gershwin, theorized that S.Y. had a predisposition toward autoimmunity, characterized by a Th-1 immune response. He opined that the vaccinations stimulated this predisposition, leading to bystander activation of immune cells and a subsequent autoimmune response. Respondent's experts, Drs. Matloubian and Gill, disagreed, arguing that the evidence did not support a causal link between the vaccinations and the long-term progression of S.Y.'s Evans syndrome, autoimmune hepatitis, or PVOD. They contended that S.Y.'s condition was the natural progression of the disease, and that the timing of the vaccine's alleged impact was not temporally or logically associated with the onset of these severe conditions.
Source PDFs
USCOURTS-cofc-1_14-vv-00699