Lisa Neuss-Guillen v. HHS - Tdap, reactive polyarthritis (2024)

Lisa Neuss-Guillen, a 57-year-old woman, filed a petition alleging she suffered reactive polyarthritis following a Tdap vaccination on October 22, 2015. She claimed her symptoms began approximately three weeks after the vaccination.

The petitioner has a complex medical history, including Behçet's disease, chronic pain, osteoarthritis, and other conditions, for which she received ongoing treatment, including monthly IVIG infusions and various pain medications. The court's decision notes that the petitioner's alleged injury, reactive polyarthritis, is not listed on the Vaccine Injury Table, meaning she had to prove causation-in-fact under the Althen test.

The case involved extensive procedural history, including issues with organizing medical records and multiple opinion letters from her treating rheumatologist, Dr. Glenn Ehresmann.

Initially, Dr. Ehresmann supported the diagnosis of reactive arthritis, but later disclaimed it, stating it was likely not the best descriptor of her condition.

He also noted that her symptoms were more nerve, tendon, and soft tissue related, and recommended she see a neurologist. The court found that while the petitioner experienced subjective complaints of upper extremity pain post-vaccination, she failed to establish a medically recognized injury or a causal link between the vaccination and her symptoms.

The court also noted that her pain could be explained by fluctuations in her chronic conditions or adjustments to her pain medication. Ultimately, the court concluded that the petitioner did not prove by a preponderance of the evidence that she suffered an injury caused by the vaccination and dismissed her case.