Age: 67.0
Sex: M
Vaccine: FLU3
Symptoms: Ageusia, Alanine aminotransferase increased, Blood copper normal, Blood thyroid stimulating hormone normal, Blood zinc normal
Clinical narrative: Initial report received from a consumer in the United States on 28 February 2011. A 68-year-old male patient received an intramuscular injection (site unknown) of influenza vaccine (unspecified), sanofi pasteur lot number unknown on 16 November 2010. The patient had no known allergies. His medical history was not reported. The patient's concomitant medications included multivitamin, fish oil, baby ASA, red yeast rice supplement and AVODART for prostate for the last 4 years. He had no illness at the time of vaccination and had no adverse event following prior vaccination. The patient had many previous years of influenza vaccines in a row. On 19 November 2010, the patient developed total loss of taste for four days after the vaccine which continues. The patient was seeing an ears, nose and throat (ENT) specialist for the problem. The outcome was reported as not recovered. Follow-up information received from a physician on 18 March 2011. Patient had no known drug allergies at time of vaccination and had not received any other vaccinations within 4 weeks of receiving FLUZONE (lot number U3788AA) on 16 November 2010. Regarding the adverse event of loss of taste, routine laboratory work included CBC, U/A, PSA, (illegible), B12, Zn, CO, TSH, CRP that were all normal. Comprehensive metabolic panel and also completed that was normal except for ALT that was 66, vitamin D level was also decreased to 27. An MRI was performed that was negative. Patient was put on trial of steroids (trade name not provided) with negative response. Recovery status was not updated by the reporter, and so remains not recovered. Follow-up information was received 08 April 2011 from a health care professional. The steroid administered to the patient was identified as Prednisone (not nasal). The patient had no improvement in taste and had not recovered. A final diagnosis was not made; however according to the reporter, no further treatment was required. No additional information was provided. Follow-up information received on 17 June 2011 from a health care professional. The patient was treated with a 12 day course of oral prednisone tapering doses from 60 mg. to 10 mg. There was no clinical improvement noted. An MRI of the brain on 23 December 2010 was negative for causation. Smell identification testing was normal. In the opinion of the reporter, who is an otolaryngologist, this indicates loss of taste seemed to be specific to the taste pathway rather than olfaction. Per the reporter, he is uncertain if the patient's symptoms have changed since December 2010, as he has not seen the patient for follow-up since that time. The patient's recovery status has been updated to unknown. Follow-up information was received from a health care professional on 18 July 2011. The patient has a history of BPH, L-5 spondylosis, arthroscopy of left knee, increase of lipids and occasional increase of LFT's (liver function tests). The indication for use for concomitant medications red yeast rice supplement and AVODART were increase of lipids and BPH respectively. The patient was last evaluated on by his physician on 22 April 2011. No further information was available at the time of the report. The patient's outcome was not recovered. Follow-up information received from a health care professional on 29 August 2011. The patient had no change and taste still altered. The outcome remained not recovered. Documents held by sender: none.