{"package_id":"USCOURTS-cofc-1_15-vv-01273","decision_granule_id":"USCOURTS-cofc-1_15-vv-01273-2","petitioner_identifier":"Helene Quintana","is_minor":0,"age_at_vaccination":55.0,"age_unit_raw":"years","vaccine_type":"influenza","vaccination_date":"2012-11-03","condition_raw":"uveitis, herpes keratitis, and peripheral ulcerative keratitis (PUK)","condition_category":"encephalitis_encephalopathy","autism_spectrum_adjacent":0,"outcome":"denied","award_amount_usd":null,"decision_date":"2022-06-02","extraction_version":"gemini-v2","extracted_at":"2026-04-30T04:49:43.965943+00:00","number_of_concurrent_vaccines":1,"dose_number":null,"time_to_onset_days":3,"theory_of_causation":"Petitioner Helene Quintana alleged that her November 3, 2012 influenza vaccine caused uveitis and herpes keratitis. Petitioner's expert, Dr. Frederick Fraunfelder, proposed a theory that the flu vaccine caused a Type IV hypersensitivity reaction, leading to an altered immune status and subsequent reactivation of herpes simplex virus (HSV), resulting in herpes keratitis. He also suggested a positive rechallenge mechanism. Respondent's expert, Dr. Hamid Bassiri, argued that the petitioner's symptoms were more consistent with a primary or reactivated HSV infection, exacerbated by her HLA-B27 positive status, which is a known risk factor for uveitis. Dr. Bassiri contended that the timing and nature of Petitioner's symptoms, including fever and cold-like symptoms, were not consistent with a Type IV hypersensitivity reaction. The Special Master found that Petitioner failed to establish a sound medical theory for vaccine-induced uveitis via Type IV hypersensitivity or positive rechallenge (Althen Prong 1), and that the temporal relationship was inconsistent with a Type IV hypersensitivity reaction (Althen Prong 3). Although the Special Master found that the record supported a link between the flu vaccine and HSV reactivation via positive rechallenge under Prong 1, she found insufficient evidence to establish causation under Prongs 2 and 3 for this theory. The Special Master denied the claim, finding no preponderant evidence that the vaccine caused the alleged injuries. The Court of Federal Claims affirmed the Special Master's decision.","is_death":0,"date_of_death":null,"petition_filed_date":"2015-10-28","case_summary":"On October 28, 2015, Helene Quintana filed a petition for compensation under the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program, alleging that an influenza vaccine administered on November 3, 2012, caused her to develop peripheral ulcerative keratitis (PUK), uveitis, and herpes keratitis. The petitioner was 55 years old at the time of vaccination. She initially presented with symptoms on November 12, 2012, which her treating physician, Dr. Lilia Alvarez, diagnosed as bacterial conjunctivitis and a stye. Over subsequent visits, her condition evolved, and she was seen by multiple ophthalmologists and a rheumatologist. Initial diagnoses included PUK, Reiter's syndrome, and vasculitis. Later, some physicians noted herpetic keratouveitis exacerbated by her HLA-B27 status, and one physician suggested Behcet's syndrome. Petitioner's expert, Dr. Frederick Fraunfelder, an ophthalmologist, opined that the flu vaccine caused a Type IV hypersensitivity reaction, leading to uveitis and subsequently herpes keratitis. Respondent's expert, Dr. Hamid Bassiri, an immunologist and infectious disease specialist, countered that the petitioner's symptoms were more consistent with a herpesvirus infection, potentially reactivated, and that her HLA-B27 status was a significant factor in her uveitis. He argued that the timing and nature of her symptoms did not align with a Type IV hypersensitivity reaction. The Special Master considered the evidence and testimony, ultimately finding that the petitioner failed to prove by a preponderance of the evidence that the flu vaccine was the cause-in-fact of her alleged injuries under the three-pronged Althen test. Specifically, the Special Master found that the petitioner failed to establish a sound medical theory for how the flu vaccine could cause uveitis via a Type IV hypersensitivity reaction or positive rechallenge, and that the temporal relationship between the vaccination and the onset of uveitis was not consistent with a Type IV hypersensitivity reaction. While the Special Master found that the petitioner met the first prong of Althen regarding the possibility of the flu vaccine triggering HSV reactivation via positive rechallenge, she found that the petitioner failed to establish the second and third prongs for this theory due to a lack of evidence. Consequently, the Special Master denied the petition. The petitioner sought review from the Court of Federal Claims, arguing that the Special Master abused her discretion in limiting evidence, disregarding treating physicians' notations, and misapplying the Althen test. The Court affirmed the Special Master's decision, finding it was not arbitrary, capricious, an abuse of discretion, or otherwise not in accordance with the law, and denied the petitioner's motion for review.","is_minor_inferred":0,"is_pediatric_broad":0,"special_master":"Herbrina Sanders Young","petitioner_identifier_original":null,"caption_petitioner_name":null,"petitioner_attorney_name":"Ronald Homer","petitioner_attorney_firm":"Conway, Homer, P.C.","petitioner_attorney_location":"Boston, MA","adjudicator_name":null,"caption_people_backfilled_at":null,"attorney_canonical_keys":"|ronald-homer|","firm_canonical_key":"conway-homer","package_title":"QUINTANA v. SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES","canonical_url":"https://vicp-registry.org/case/USCOURTS-cofc-1_15-vv-01273","plain_text_url":"https://vicp-registry.org/case/USCOURTS-cofc-1_15-vv-01273.txt","json_url":"https://vicp-registry.org/case/USCOURTS-cofc-1_15-vv-01273.json","source_documents":[{"granule_id":"USCOURTS-cofc-1_15-vv-01273-0","title":"QUINTANA v. SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES","docket_text":"PUBLIC DECISION (Originally filed: 08/30/2019) regarding 62 DECISION of Special Master - Interim Attorney's Fees. Signed by Special Master Herbrina Sanders. (rs) Service on parties made.","date_issued":"2020-01-10","pdf_url":null,"pdf_bytes":null,"triage_decision":"skip","triage_reason":"fees-only decision (attorney compensation)","download_status":"skipped"},{"granule_id":"USCOURTS-cofc-1_15-vv-01273-1","title":"QUINTANA v. SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES","docket_text":"PUBLIC DECISION (Originally filed: 02/15/2022) regarding 92 DECISION of Special Master. Signed by Special Master Herbrina Sanders. (arm) Service on parties made.","date_issued":"2022-03-03","pdf_url":"https://api.govinfo.gov/packages/USCOURTS-cofc-1_15-vv-01273/granules/USCOURTS-cofc-1_15-vv-01273-1/pdf","pdf_bytes":614379,"triage_decision":"keep","triage_reason":"docketText matches keep keyword 'decision of special master'","download_status":"ok","registry_pdf_url":"https://vicp-registry.org/pdf/USCOURTS-cofc-1_15-vv-01273/USCOURTS-cofc-1_15-vv-01273-1"},{"granule_id":"USCOURTS-cofc-1_15-vv-01273-2","title":"QUINTANA v. SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES","docket_text":"JUDGE VACCINE UNREPORTED OPINION. Reissued public opinion of the Court's sealed Opinion and Order 101 of 5/18/2022. Signed by Judge Richard A. Hertling. (dhf) Service on parties made.","date_issued":"2022-06-02","pdf_url":"https://api.govinfo.gov/packages/USCOURTS-cofc-1_15-vv-01273/granules/USCOURTS-cofc-1_15-vv-01273-2/pdf","pdf_bytes":386361,"triage_decision":"keep","triage_reason":"docketText matches keep keyword 'opinion'","download_status":"ok","registry_pdf_url":"https://vicp-registry.org/pdf/USCOURTS-cofc-1_15-vv-01273/USCOURTS-cofc-1_15-vv-01273-2"},{"granule_id":"USCOURTS-cofc-1_15-vv-01273-3","title":"QUINTANA v. SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES","docket_text":"PUBLIC DECISION (Originally filed: 02/15/2023) regarding 111 DECISION of Special Master - Fees. Signed by Special Master Herbrina Sanders. (kp) Service on parties made.","date_issued":"2023-03-10","pdf_url":null,"pdf_bytes":null,"triage_decision":"skip","triage_reason":"fees-only decision (attorney compensation)","download_status":"skipped"}]}