Paula Beyerl v. HHS - Influenza, coronary artery spasms, pericarditis, angina, paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia, atrial fibrillation, chest pain (2022)

Paula Beyerl filed a petition on January 10, 2020, pro se, and later with counsel, alleging that she suffered pericarditis, coronary artery spasms, angina, paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia, temporary atrial fibrillation, and/or chest pain as a result of an influenza vaccination administered on January 10, 2017. The respondent was the Secretary of Health and Human Services.

The Special Master, Nora Beth Dorsey, issued a decision on February 1, 2022, dismissing the case for failure to prosecute and insufficient proof. The petitioner's relevant medical history, dating back to 2014, included significant prior complaints and treatment for chest pain, diagnosed as costochondritis and hiatal hernia.

Physicians at that time suspected non-cardiac etiology for her chest discomfort. Following the January 10, 2017, flu vaccination, Ms.

Beyerl reported throat tightening, which improved after treatment with Benadryl, epinephrine, and Solumedrol. She was discharged home the same day.

In the following days, she sought emergency care for chest pain, with evaluations including EKGs and cardiac enzymes, all of which were normal. Physicians concluded her chest pain was not acute coronary syndrome or angina and was likely costochondritis.

While pericarditis was considered, it was ruled out. Petitioner continued to seek care for chest pain throughout 2017, with multiple negative work-ups and persistent diagnoses of costochondritis.

A reference to coronary artery spasms appeared in December 2017, but the records did not show definitive diagnostic studies confirming this condition. Cardiologists who evaluated Ms.

Beyerl noted her chest pain appeared atypical of angina, potentially related to esophageal spasm or chest wall pain, and one cardiologist was not convinced she truly had coronary artery spasm. The Special Master noted that Ms.

Beyerl had a history of chest pain prior to the vaccination, and that after the vaccination, her symptoms were evaluated and found not to be acute coronary syndrome or angina. The Special Master also noted that while there was a later reference to possible coronary artery spasms, there was no definitive diagnostic evidence of this condition or any other vaccine-related injury.

Crucially, Ms. Beyerl failed to file an expert report to establish causation, despite multiple extensions granted by the court.

Consequently, the case was dismissed for failure to prosecute and insufficient proof, as the petitioner did not demonstrate that her alleged conditions were caused by the flu vaccine. The Special Master expressed sympathy for the petitioner's pain and suffering but stated the case could not proceed without proof of causation.