Robert Introini v. HHS - Tdap, transverse myelitis (2022)

Robert Introini, a 63-year-old male, received a Tdap vaccine on February 24, 2017. Approximately five weeks later, around March 31, 2017, he began experiencing neurological symptoms including numbness, tingling, and weakness, which were diagnosed as transverse myelitis (TM).

Mr. Introini's treating physicians, including a neurologist and a neurosurgeon, concluded that his TM was likely vaccine-induced.

He presented medical records and an expert report from his treating neurologist, Dr. Salvatore Napoli, who opined that the Tdap vaccine caused Mr.

Introini's TM through molecular mimicry. Respondent argued against compensation, presenting expert reports from an allergist/immunologist and a neurologist who questioned the TM diagnosis and the proposed causation theory.

The respondent's experts suggested alternative causes, such as cervical spinal stenosis, and challenged the scientific literature supporting vaccine-induced TM. The Special Master found that Mr.

Introini had established by a preponderance of the evidence that he suffered from TM and that the Tdap vaccine caused his condition. The court found the molecular mimicry theory to be a sound and reliable medical explanation for vaccine-induced TM, and that the temporal relationship between the vaccination and symptom onset was medically acceptable.

The court also found that Mr. Introini's cervical disc disease did not explain his TM symptoms and that the respondent had not proven an alternative cause.

Therefore, Mr. Introini was found entitled to compensation, with damages to be determined in a separate order.