http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/releases/305401.php


Chickenpox, shingles vaccine may cause corneal inflammation in some
patients
Adapted Media Release
Published: Today

Primary care physicians should be aware of possible vision side effect
for susceptible patients.

In use for more than 20 years, the varicella zoster virus vaccine for chickenpox and shingles is considered an essential medicine by the World
Health Organization (WHO). However, researchers from the University of
Missouri School of Medicine have found, in rare instances, a link
between the vaccine and corneal inflammation. It is a finding the
researchers say should be discussed by primary care physicians and
patients with a history of eye inflammation before getting vaccinated.

"Keratitis, or inflammation of the clear layer on the front of the eye,
is a vision issue that can cause serious complications or even permanent
damage to your vision if left untreated," said Frederick W. Fraunfelder,
M.D., chair of the Department of Ophthalmology at the MU School of
Medicine and director of MU Health Care's Mason Eye Institute. "By
studying case reports from national and international registries, we
found at least 20 cases of keratitis occurred in children and adults
within a month of administration of the chickenpox and shingles vaccine.
While this is a rare occurrence, it's important for physicians to know
when giving the vaccine to individuals who have a history of the
condition because it could be reactivated by the vaccine."

Fraunfelder is the director of the National Registry of Drug-induced
Ocular Side Effects, an international effort to gather information on
adverse ocular events associated with drugs, chemicals or herbs. The
registry collects data from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration
spontaneous reporting database, the WHO spontaneous reporting database
and reports from physicians who submit to the registry.

A review of the database and previously published reports found 20 cases
of keratitis with a close relationship to administration of the vaccine.
For adults, symptoms of keratitis developed within 24 days of
vaccination. For pediatric patients, symptoms of inflammation developed
within 14 days.

Using the WHO classification system for adverse drug reactions, the
researchers found a probable relationship between the vaccine and
keratitis. However, the researchers recommend the majority of patients
still be regularly vaccinated against chickenpox and shingles.

"It's important to note that keratitis associated with these vaccines is
very rare, and by itself is not a reason to forego vaccination,"
Fraunfelder said. "But for patients who have a history of keratitis, we recommend they talk to their primary care physician before getting
vaccinated. If these individuals are vaccinated, they should be closely monitored to ensure they don't experience corneal inflammation or
additional scarring."

The study, "Varicella and Zoster Vaccine-associated Keratitis," was
presented at the 2015 meeting of the American Academy of Ophthalmology
in Las Vegas. In addition to Fraunfelder, the researchers included
Anthony Grillo, M.D., fellow in the MU Department of Ophthalmology.

--
Fenris

The SHG for RSPCA Problems Blog
http://theshg.wordpress.com

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