Cara Specks v. HHS - Influenza, hyperadrenergic postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (“POTS”) with hypovolemia (2023)

Cara Specks filed a petition alleging that the influenza vaccine she received on October 8, 2013, caused her hyperadrenergic postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS) with hypovolemia. The court reviewed extensive medical records and expert testimony from both sides.

Petitioner's experts argued that POTS can have an autoimmune basis and that the flu vaccine could have triggered this autoimmune response through molecular mimicry. Respondent's expert contended that Petitioner's symptoms predated the vaccination and that deconditioning and dehydration were more likely causes, not the vaccine itself.

The court found that while POTS can have an autoimmune etiology, Petitioner failed to demonstrate that the flu vaccine could trigger such a response or that her condition was not caused by factors unrelated to the vaccine. Crucially, the court noted significant evidence of pre-existing symptoms consistent with orthostatic intolerance, such as tachycardia, palpitations, and dizziness, dating back to 2011, which predated her vaccination.

Despite opportunities to amend her claim to include significant aggravation, Petitioner did not do so. Ultimately, the court concluded that Petitioner failed to prove by a preponderance of the evidence that the flu vaccine was the cause-in-fact of her POTS and dismissed the claim.