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Pancreatitis after human papillomavirus vaccination: a matter of molecular mimicry

  • Environment and Autoimmunity
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Abstract

A 20-year-old man developed severe abdominal pain 1 week after being vaccinated with the first dose of quadrivalent human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine (Gardasil®). Despite ongoing symptoms of nausea and pain, he received the second dose of the vaccine. Only 10 days later, laboratory results revealed significantly elevated pancreatic enzymes, and with concomitant abdominal pain and vomiting, he was diagnosed with acute pancreatitis. This case of acute pancreatitis after HPV vaccination is not a novel entity. Although confirming the relationship between pancreatitis and vaccine is challenging, some factors suggest a possible link, including the positive re-challenge upon repeated exposure to the vaccine, HPV vaccine as probable causal relationship to other autoimmune diseases and a probable mechanism of molecular mimicry. In conjunction with aluminum adjuvant, the induction of immunity through molecular mimicry may potentially culminate in production of cytotoxic autoantibodies with a particular affinity for pancreatic acinar cells.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. The Zabludowicz Center for Autoimmune Diseases, Chaim Sheba Medical Center, 52621, Tel-Hashomer, Israel

    Mojca Bizjak, Or Bruck, Shani Dahan & Yehuda Shoenfeld

  2. Department of Rheumatology, University Medical Centre, Ljubljana, Slovenia

    Sonja Praprotnik

  3. Incumbent of the Laura Schwarz-Kipp Chair for Research of Autoimmune Diseases, Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel-Aviv University, Tel Aviv-Yafo, Israel

    Yehuda Shoenfeld

  4. Department of Medicine ‘B’, Sheba Medical Center, Tel-Hashomer, Israel

    Shani Dahan

  5. Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel-Aviv University, Tel Aviv-Yafo, Israel

    Shani Dahan

Authors
  1. Mojca Bizjak
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  2. Or Bruck
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  3. Sonja Praprotnik
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  4. Shani Dahan
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  5. Yehuda Shoenfeld
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Correspondence to Yehuda Shoenfeld.

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Conflict of interest

Y. Shoenfeld has served as an expert witness in cases involving adverse vaccine reaction in the no-fault USA National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program. The authors have no other relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript apart from those disclosed.

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Bizjak, M., Bruck, O., Praprotnik, S. et al. Pancreatitis after human papillomavirus vaccination: a matter of molecular mimicry. Immunol Res 65, 164–167 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12026-016-8823-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12026-016-8823-9

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