Age: 1.01
Sex: M
Vaccine: MMR, VARCEL
Symptoms: Platelet count decreased, Thrombocytopenic purpura
Clinical narrative: Child developed ITP (known side effect of MMR) and regressive autism. My son's platelet count was within a normal range at one year of age. I recently requested the lab results from his 12 month check up (when the pediatrician routinely did lab work to check lead levels). The lab work at 12 months of age revealed a platelet count of 328,000 which is within the normal range. At his 12 month visit, my son received the MMR shot, and subsequently showed symptoms of ITP. Specifically, he came home from daycare with excessive bruising and the presence of petechiae. At the time, I never heard of ITP and I certainly didn't know these were symptoms of ITP. He was brought to the school nurse on many occasions. Because he didn't show any sensitivity to touching the bruised area or petechia, I was reassured that I shouldn't be concerned. The explanation I got from his day care provider was that he is active and boys will be boys. Because of the excessive bruising without any identifiable cause (no falls reported, etc), I was concerned and had several conversations with the director of the daycare because I suspected that his daycare teacher was not providing proper supervision. I later found out that it was because his platelet count was so low. In the meantime, he began to regress developmentally, as well. As a speech pathologist working with young children, I saw the developmental regression and was very concerned. He lost skills, developed self-stimulatory behaviors, stopped responding to his name, and retrieved into his own world. In June 2000, and then again in September of 2000, his left arm was filled with petechiae from his wrist up his arm to his elbow. I knew something was wrong in September when it occurred the second time, so I took him to the doctor. On 9/14/00, the pediatrician who saw him ordered a CB right away. When the CBC results came back, the pediatrician on call told us to bring him to the emergency room to be admitted immediately. His platelet count was dangerously low (12,000 as I recall), and subsequently dropped as low as 6,000-7,000 (?) when we arrived at the ER. Although he was not diagnosed until September, we realized in hind sight, that all the bruising and petechiae he had during that period of time were symptoms of ITP all along. Because of his other developmental issues and inability to communicate any medical problems, we did not realize that he in fact had ITP for months. He was hospitalized, received IV steroids, and was released from the hospital with a prescription for oral steroids. His platelet count was monitored weekly initially, and has fluctuated over time. He continues to be followed by his hematologist for chronic ITP. At the time of his diagnosis with ITP, the hematologist explained that the cause of ITP is not known as the name implies (idiopathic meaning no known origin). She went on to explain that the medical community believes that patient's with ITP have been exposed to something viral which triggered an autoimmune response. I was confused by this explanation, as he was a healthy baby with a seemingly strong immune system (breast fed for over 10 months) and to the best of my recollection he hadn't been sick in the weeks preceding his 1 year visit (at which time the blood work was fine). He is also seen by an immunologist (following DAN protocol) who provides him with biomedical treatments for his autism. In reviewing his history, the immunologist informed me that medical research has proven that ITP is a known side effect of MMR. Recently, his platelet count has dropped very low again, and has received a five hour IVIG treatment on 2 separate occasions. While researching IVIG and ITP, I viewed medical documentation which validates a causal relationship between the MMR and the onset of ITP. This clearly exemplified to me that the idiopathic virus which caused his ITP was in fact, the measles, mumps, rubella, or a combination of the 3 viruses received in the vaccine. I felt it was important that his ITP be reported, now that my husband and I have become aware that his ITP developed as a result of receiving the MMR. No additional information from Medical Record rec'd 01/18/2006/sr Subject continues to present with ITP (low platelet counts), which requires frequent blood work to monitor platelet levels, as well as IVIG winRhu, & Ritux MAB treatments.  Subject continued to exhibit bruising & petiechae when his platelet count is low.  Subject has acquired a chronic auto immune condition (ITP) as a result of the vaccines and simultaneously developed recessive autism both of which are significant chronic conditions as a result of an adverse reaction to vaccinaations however I've been told that I am beyond the 3 year time frame to receive compensation for all of the medical costs & emotional loss which well never be regained.