L.P. v. HHS - Influenza, postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS) (2021)

L.P. filed a petition alleging that she developed postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS) as a result of an influenza vaccine received on September 25, 2015. The decision notes that L.P. had a significant pre-vaccination medical history including heart palpitations, asthma, anxiety, scoliosis, and various deficiencies.

Following the vaccination, L.P. reported new symptoms including ear fullness, tinnitus, hearing loss, and heart racing, which evolved into a constellation of symptoms including orthostatic tachycardia, palpitations, fatigue, and cognitive difficulties. Petitioner's expert, Dr.

Schofield, opined that the flu vaccine triggered an autoimmune response leading to POTS and possibly antiphospholipid syndrome (APS). Respondent's expert, Dr.

Leist, a neurologist, countered that L.P.'s symptoms predated the vaccination, her tilt table test was not diagnostic of POTS, and there was no clear link between the flu vaccine and her alleged conditions. The Special Master found Dr.

Leist to be the more persuasive expert. The decision concluded that L.P. failed to prove by preponderant evidence that she suffered from POTS or APS, and that her symptoms were not solely caused by the flu vaccine, citing pre-existing conditions and a lack of definitive diagnostic evidence.

Consequently, the petition was denied.