Court Opinion

ID: 8313538
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2022-10-17 17:01:37.774137+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T16:44:50.645835
License: Public Domain

In the United States Court of Federal Claims
                              OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
                                  Filed: September 22, 2022

*************************
JENNIFER GROSS,             *                        PUBLISHED
                            *
                Petitioner, *                        No. 17-1075V
                            *
v.                          *                        Special Master Nora Beth Dorsey
                            *
SECRETARY OF HEALTH         *                        Ruling on Entitlement; Pneumococcal
AND HUMAN SERVICES,         *                        Conjugate (“Prevnar 13”) Vaccine;
                            *                        Guillain-Barré Syndrome (“GBS”);
                Respondent. *                        Chronic Inflammatory Demyelinating
                            *                        Polyneuropathy (“CIDP”).
*************************

Lawrence R. Cohan, Saltz Mongeluzzi & Bendesky, Philadelphia, PA, for Petitioner.
Colleen C. Hartley, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for Respondent.

                               RULING ON ENTITLEMENT1

        On August 8, 2017, Jennifer Gross (“Petitioner”) filed a petition for compensation under
the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program (“Vaccine Act” or “the Program”), 42
U.S.C. § 300aa-10 et seq. (2012),2 alleging that she suffered Guillain-Barré Syndrome (“GBS”)
and chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (“CIDP”) as the result of a
pneumococcal conjugate (“Prevnar 13”) vaccination she received on September 22, 2016.
Petition at Preamble (ECF No. 1). Respondent argued against compensation, stating “this case
[was] not appropriate for compensation under the terms of the Act.” Respondent’s Report
(“Resp. Rept.”) at 1 (ECF No. 18).

1
  Because this Ruling contains a reasoned explanation for the action in this case, the undersigned
is required to post it on the United States Court of Federal Claims’ website in accordance with
the E-Government Act of 2002. 44 U.S.C. § 3501 note (2012) (Federal Management and
Promotion of Electronic Government Services). This means the Ruling will be available to
anyone with access to the Internet. In accordance with Vaccine Rule 18(b), Petitioner has 14
days to identify and move to redact medical or other information, the disclosure of which would
constitute an unwarranted invasion of privacy. If, upon review, the undersigned agrees that the
identified material fits within this definition, the undersigned will redact such material from
public access.
2
 The National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program is set forth in Part 2 of the National
Childhood Vaccine Injury Act of 1986, Pub. L. No. 99-660, 100 Stat. 3755, codified as amended,
42 U.S.C. §§ 300aa-10 to -34 (2012). All citations in this Ruling to individual sections of the
Vaccine Act are to 42 U.S.C. § 300aa.
       After carefully analyzing and weighing the evidence presented in this case in accordance
with the applicable legal standards, the undersigned finds that Petitioner has provided
preponderant evidence that her proper diagnosis was GBS, which subsequently was diagnosed as
CIDP, and that the Prevnar 13 vaccine she received caused her GBS and CIDP, satisfying her
burden of proof under Althen v. Secretary of Health & Human Services, 418 F.3d 1274, 1280
(Fed. Cir. 2005). Accordingly, Petitioner is entitled to compensation.

I.     ISSUES TO BE DECIDED

       Diagnosis is at issue. Petitioner’s experts, Dr. Daniel Stein and Dr. Lawrence Steinman,
opined that Petitioner’s correct diagnosis was an inflammatory neuropathy initially labeled as
GBS that became chronic with a diagnosis of CIDP, whereas Respondent’s expert, Dr. Vinay
Chaudhry, disagreed. Petitioner’s Exhibit (“Pet. Ex.”) 15 at 11; Pet. Ex. 23 at 26; Resp. Ex. A at
8-9. Dr. Chaudhry opined that Petitioner’s clinical presentation and diagnostic studies were not
consistent with GBS. Resp. Ex. A at 9-10; Resp. Ex. E at 5.

        The parties also dispute causation. Petitioner does not allege a Table injury, and thus, she
must prove causation-in-fact by preponderant evidence. Petitioner contended that she provided
preponderant evidence of the Althen criteria, and respondent disagreed. Pet. Pre-Hearing
Submission, filed May 24, 2021, at 11-37 (ECF No. 88); Resp. Pre-Hearing Submission, filed
May 24, 2021, at 13-6 (ECF No. 86). Respondent argued that even if Petitioner had GBS, which
subsequently evolved into CIDP, she failed to (1) provide a reliable scientific or medical theory
establishing that the Prevnar 13 vaccine can cause GBS or CIDP, (2) provide evidence of a
logical sequence of cause and effect between Petitioner’s Prevnar 13 vaccine and her alleged
GBS or CIDP, or (3) establish a medically appropriate temporal relationship between Petitioner’s
Prevnar 13 vaccine and her alleged GBS or CIDP. Resp. Pre-Hearing Submission at 13-16.

II.    BACKGROUND

       A.      Procedural History

       On August 8, 2017, Petitioner filed her petition for compensation in the Vaccine
Program. Petition. From August 2017 to May 2018, Petitioner filed medical records. Pet. Exs.
1-14. Respondent filed Respondent’s Rule 4(c) Report on June 29, 2018, arguing against
compensation. Resp. Rept. at 1.

        Petitioner filed an expert report from Dr. Daniel Stein and medical literature on
September 27, 2018. Pet. Exs. 15-18. Respondent filed responsive expert reports from Dr.
Vinay Chaudhry and Dr. Noel Rose on March 12, 2019. Resp. Exs. A-D. The parties agreed to
alternative dispute resolution (“ADR”) in May 2019 and began ADR proceedings in September
2019. P-100 Initial Order dated Sept. 24, 2019 (ECF No. 22).

       On October 3, 2019, this case was reassigned to the undersigned. Notice of
Reassignment dated Oct. 3, 2019 (ECF No. 24). From October 2019 to January 2020, the parties
filed medical literature and medical records. Pet. Exs. 19-22; Resp. Ex. A, Tabs 1-15; Resp. Ex.

                                                 2
C, Tabs 1-22. The case was removed from the ADR process on February 13, 2020. Order
Removing Case from ADR dated Feb. 13, 2020 (ECF No. 44).

       A pre-hearing order was issued, setting an entitlement hearing to begin on June 9, 2021.
Pre-Hearing Order dated Mar. 24, 2020 (ECF No. 49). The parties filed multiple expert reports
from Drs. Steinman, Chaudhry, and Whitton, with supporting medical literature from December
2020 to June 2021. Pet. Exs. 23-34; Resp. Exs. E-K.

        An entitlement hearing was held on June 9 and 10, 2021. Order dated June 10, 2021
(ECF No. 96). Petitioner filed updated medical records on August 9, 2021, and a post-hearing
brief on September 21, 2021. Pet. Exs. 35-36; Pet. Post-Hearing Brief (“Br.”), filed Sept. 21,
2021 (ECF No. 109). Respondent filed a post-hearing brief on January 27, 2022. Resp. Post-
Hearing Br., filed Jan. 27, 2022 (ECF No. 125). Petitioner filed a reply on March 31, 2022. Pet.
Reply to Resp. Post-Hearing Br. (“Pet. Reply”), filed Mar. 31, 2022 (ECF No. 133). Petitioner
filed additional medical records throughout 2022. Pet. Exs. 37-38.

       This matter is now ripe for adjudication.

       B.      Medical Terminology

         GBS is “an acute paralytic disorder of the peripheral nervous system, usually
characterized by ‘ascending’ paralysis (i.e., beginning in the lower limbs, and spreading
upwards).” Resp. Ex. F at 7. The condition is relatively rare, with a reported incidence of 0.89-
1.89 cases per 100,000 person-years in Western countries, affecting all ages, with an increased
risk in older adults. Pet. Ex. 17o at 1.3 Weakness is the prominent manifestation. Id. Other
symptoms may include sensory disturbances, cranial nerve palsies, and dysautonomia.4 Id. at 9.
Generally, weakness is progressive, but it may be acute with “rapid neurological deterioration
over 2-6 weeks during which time a nadir is reached, followed by a plateau of relative clinical
stability and then a period of improvement.” Pet. Ex. 15 at 7; see also Transcript (“Tr.”) 154.

3
  Nobuhiro Yuki & Hans-Peter Hartung, Guillain-Barré Syndrome, 366 New Eng. J. Med. 2294
(2012).
4
  Dysautonomia is a “malfunction of the autonomic nervous system.” Dysautonomia, Dorland’s
Med. Dictionary Online, https://www.dorlandsonline.com/dorland/definition?id=15146 (last
visited Sept. 12, 2022). Autonomic nervous system is “the portion of the nervous system
concerned with regulation of the activity of cardiac muscle, smooth muscle, and glandular
epithelium; usually restricted to the two visceral efferent peripheral components, the sympathetic
nervous system, and the parasympathetic nervous system.” Autonomic Nervous System,
Dorland’s Med. Dictionary Online, https://www.dorlandsonline.com/dorland/definition?
id=111779 (last visited Sept. 12, 2022).

                                                   3
        CIDP “is a symmetric sensorimotor weakness of [greater than] 8 weeks[] duration and is
associated with absent/reduced reflexes, albuminocytological dissociation,[5] demyelinating
electrophysiology, response to [intravenous immune globulin (“IVIG”)] treatment, and relapsing
or slowly progressive course.” Resp. Ex. A at 6 (citing Resp. Ex. A, Tab 1 at 1).6 CIDP is
closely related to GBS and it is considered the chronic counterpart of the acute disease. Resp.
Ex. E, Tab 5 at 1.7 “CIDP is a neurological disorder characterized by progressive weakness and
impaired sensory function in the legs and arms. The disorder, which is sometimes called chronic
relapsing polyneuropathy, is caused by damage to the myelin sheath of the peripheral nerves.”
Id.

        “The clinical course of CIDP may be described as relapsing-remitting, steady
progressive[,] or stepwise progressive.” Resp. Ex. A, Tab 10 at 8.8 The clinical features are
similar to GBS, however, “respiratory dysfunction, cranial nerve deficits[,] and dysautonomia
[are] less commonly observed.” Id. EMG studies in CIDP show “evidence of peripheral nerve
demyelination such as prolonged distal latencies, reduced conduction velocities, conduction
block[,] and temporal dispersion in at least two motor nerves; however, with disease restricted to
the nerve roots prolonged F-wave responses may be the only evidence of dysfunction.” Id. at 8-
9. Analysis of cerebrospinal fluid (“CSF”) generally shows the same abnormalities that are seen
in GBS, albuminocytologic dissociation. Id. at 9. The neuropathological features of CIDP are
similar to GBS, with both conditions characterized by “mononuclear cell infiltration of
predominantly monocytes/macrophages and less commonly T lymphocytes into peripheral nerve
and nerve root endoneurium with macrophage-mediated demyelination.” Id.

        The cause of GBS is not known, but it “is thought to be an autoimmune process that is
triggered by antigenic stimulation, resulting in demyelination and destruction of peripheral
nerves.” Resp. Ex. A, Tab 6 at 1.9 GBS is thought to be triggered by infections or

5
  Albuminocytologic dissociation is the “increase of protein with otherwise normal cell count in
the spinal fluid.” Albuminocytologic Dissociation, Dorland’s Med. Dictionary Online,
https://www.dorlandsonline.com/dorland/definition?id=71273 (last visited Sept. 12, 2022).
6
  Jean-Michel Vallat et al., Chronic Inflammatory Demyelinating Polyradiculoneuropathy:
Diagnostic and Therapeutic Challenges for a Treatable Condition, 9 Lancet Neurology 402
(2010).
7
  Nat’l Inst. Neurological Disorders & Stroke, Chronic Inflammatory Demyelinating
Polyneuropathy (CIDP) Information Page, https://www.ninds.nih.gov/health-
information/disorders/chronic-inflammatory-demyelinating-polyneuropathy-cidp (last updated
Mar. 27, 2019).
8
  Eroboghene E. Ubogu, Inflammatory Neuropathies: Pathology, Molecular Marker and Targets
for Specific Therapeutic Intervention, 130 Acta Neruopathol 445 (2015).
9
 Roger Baxter et al., Lack of Association of Guillain-Barré Syndrome with Vaccinations, 57
Clinical Infectious Diseases 197 (2013).

                                                4
immunizations. Pet. Ex. 15 at 3, 5. “[A]proximately two-thirds of all cases are preceded by a
gastrointestinal or respiratory infection within the prior 3 months.” Resp. Ex. A, Tab 6 at 1.

       “Molecular mimicry has been proposed to be a pathogenic mechanism . . . based on
epidemiological, clinical, and experimental evidence of the association of infectious agents with
autoimmune diseases and an observed cross-reactivity of antibodies raised by microbial
components with host ‘self’ antigens.” Pet. Ex. 17a at 1.10 The underlying etiology of GBS,
although not known, “is considered to be an immune-mediated disorder resulting from
generation of autoimmune antibodies and/or inflammatory cells which cross-react with epitopes
on peripheral nerves and roots, leading to demyelination or axonal damage or both.” Resp. Ex.
E, Tab 3 at 2.11 In an article filed by Respondent, the way infection and vaccines may cause
GBS is described below:

               Antigenic challenge by an antecedent infection or immunization leads to
        antigen-specific humoral and/or cellular immunity, and as such, this immune
        stimulation could theoretically result in GBS through a number of possible
        mechanisms. The concept of “molecular mimicry” involves a situation in which
        epitopes of a pathogen or vaccine protein could initiate development of antibodies
        and/or T-cells that could cross-react with epitopes on peripheral nerve myelin or
        axonal glycoproteins or ganglioside moieties. Activated macrophages could
        potentially be targeted to antigens on the myelin sheath and subsequently invade
        the basement membrane resulting in demyelination or, alternatively, invade at the
        nodes of Ranvier[12] to result in axonal damage.

Id. at 3.

       Both GBS and CIDP may occur in the setting of “genetic susceptibility factors.” Resp.
Ex. A, Tab 10 at 11. The “immunopathogenesis of CIDP has yet to be elucidated.” Id. at 12. As

10
  Nobuhiro Yuki, Ganglioside Mimicry and Peripheral Nerve Disease, 35 Muscle & Nerve 691
(2007).
11
  James J. Sejvar et al., Guillain-Barré Syndrome and Fisher Syndrome: Case Definitions and
Guidelines for Collection, Analysis, and Presentation of Immunization Safety Data, 29 Vaccine
599 (2011).
12
   The nodes of Ranvier are “constrictions occurring on myelinated nerve fibers at regular
intervals of about 1 mm; at these sites the myelin sheath is absent and the axon is enclosed only
by Schwann cell processes.” Nodes of Ranvier, Dorland’s Med. Dictionary Online,
https://www.dorlandsonline.com/dorland/definition?id=93095 (last visited Sept. 12, 2022).
Schwann cells are “any of the large nucleated cells whose cell membrane spirally enwraps the
axons of myelinated peripheral neurons and is the source of myelin; a single Schwann cell
supplies the myelin sheath between two nodes of Ranvier.” Schwann Cell, Dorland’s Med.
Dictionary Online, https://www.dorlandsonline.com/dorland/definition?id=66407 (last visited
Sept. 12, 2022).

                                                5
with acute inflammatory demyelinating polyradiculoneuropathy (“AIDP”) (GBS), there are
“significant gaps” in the “understanding of the immunopathogenesis of CIDP.” Id. at 13.

       C.      Summary of Medical Records

               1.     Pre-Vaccination History

        Petitioner was born on August 8, 1962, and was fifty-four years old at the time of
vaccination. Pet. Ex. 1 at 21. Her past medical history was significant for anxiety, dermatitis,
asthma, mixed hyperlipidemia, abnormal liver function, obesity, vitamin D deficiency, and
diabetes mellitus without complication. Id. During a routine visit on May 11, 2016, with her
primary care provider (“PCP”), Marc G. Boyer, a certified physician assistant (“PA-C”),
Petitioner “was sensitive to microfilament testing on both feet.” Id. Her diabetes and mixed
hyperlipidemia were noted to be in “excellent control.” Id. at 22.

        Petitioner underwent a bunionectomy on each of her feet on March 8 and September 13,
2016, both performed by Dr. Christopher Dugan. Pet. Ex. 14 at 22 (right foot), 54 (left foot).
Petitioner had a successful postoperative course from her surgeries. Id. at 34.

               2.     Vaccination on September 22, 2016

        On September 22, 2016, Petitioner presented to PA-C Boyer for a routine checkup
regarding Petitioner’s diabetes and bloodwork results. Pet. Ex. 1 at 16. Mr. Boyer noted
Petitioner’s type II diabetes was controlled and without complication. Id. at 18. The Prevnar 13
vaccine13 was administered in Petitioner’s left deltoid. Id. at 19; Pet. Ex. 8 at 1.

               3.     Post-Vaccination Care

                      a.      2016 Records

        Petitioner called PA-C Boyer on October 5, 2016, complaining that both her hands were
“tingling.” Pet. Ex. 9 at 15. She scheduled an appointment and was advised to go to the
emergency room (“ER”) if her symptoms worsened. Id.

        Petitioner presented to the Memorial Hospital ER on October 7, 2016, for progressing
numbness in her hands and feet. Pet. Ex. 12 at 9. Petitioner reported that she began to
experience numbness in the tip of her right index finger on October 5, 2016, which progressed to
numbness in both of her hands on October 6, and finally progressed to numbness in both of her
feet that morning. Id. A computerized tomography (“CT”) head scan without contrast showed

13
  The Prevnar 13 vaccine protects against Streptococcus pneumoniae (“S. pneumoniae”) and
contains the polysaccharides from 13 different strains of pneumococcus and, thereby, protects
against those 13 strains. Pet. Ex. 25e (Prevnar 13 package insert). The Prevnar 13 package
insert is also cited by Respondent. See Resp. Ex. A, Tab 9.

                                                 6
normal results. Id. at 33. Petitioner was diagnosed with peripheral neuropathy and advised to
follow up in three days. Id. at 21.

        On October 10, 2016, Petitioner presented to PA-C Boyer for a follow-up from the ER
visit and complained of numbness in both her hands and feet. Pet. Ex. 1 at 12. Petitioner
reported that the numbness had now spread up to her knees. Id. Petitioner was prescribed
Neurontin, and PA-C Boyer ordered several studies including cervical spine X-rays and an
electromyography (“EMG”). Id. Petitioner’s X-rays of the cervical spine, performed that day,
were normal. Pet. Ex. 10 at 8.

      The next day, on October 11, 2016, Petitioner presented to the Barnes-Jewish Hospital
(“BJH”) ER for numbness “up to her knee,” as well as on her nose and upper lip. Pet. Ex. 2 at
471. Petitioner reported no history of neuropathy and no other symptoms associated with
numbness. Id. at 473. Petitioner had no known allergies. Id. Petitioner was diagnosed with
numbness, discharged home, and told to follow up with her PCP. Id. at 475.

        Petitioner reported that after she left the ER on October 11, 2016, she experienced
difficulty walking. Pet. Ex. 3 at 830. She returned and was admitted to BJH on October 12,
2016, for numbness that had persisted for ten days. Id. Her admitting diagnosis was GBS. Id.;
Pet. Ex. 2 at 491. Dr. Anson Wilks noted that Petitioner had “noncontributory past medical
history with week-long course of symptoms of ascending sensory numbness associated with
weakness in setting of recent Pneumovax administration.”14 Id. at 632.

        Upon admission to BJH on October 12, 2016, Petitioner had mild asymmetric weakness
on examination, with bilateral areflexia15 and dysmetria.16 Pet. Ex. 2 at 538. Petitioner’s motor
examination showed decreased sensation below the right and left knee and in the right and left
forearm. Pet. Ex. 3 at 834. Petitioner also had a severe proprioception deficit in her toes, and
was areflexic in her biceps, triceps, brachioradialis, patellar, and Achilles’ tendons. Id. Speech
therapy and modified barium swallow showed pharyngeal dysphagia17 without aspiration. Pet.
Ex. 2 at 538. Petitioner underwent an EMG/nerve conduction study (“NCS”), which showed
“severe axonal sensorimotor polyneuropathy, due to small or absent [compound muscle action

14
     Petitioner received the Prevnar 13 vaccine, not the Pneumovax vaccine.
15
   Areflexia is the “absence of reflexes.” Areflexia, Dorland’s Med. Dictionary Online,
https://www.dorlandsonline.com/dorland/definition?id=4035 (last visited Sept. 12, 2022).
16
  Dysmetria is “a condition in which there is improper estimation of distance in muscular acts,
with disturbance of the power to control the range of muscular movement, often resulting in
overreaching.” Dysmetria, Dorland’s Med. Dictionary Online, https://www.dorlandsonline.com
/dorland/definition?id=15236 (last visited Sept. 12, 2022).
17
   Dysphagia is “difficulty in swallowing.” Dysphagia, Dorland’s Med. Dictionary Online,
https://www.dorlandsonline.com/dorland/definition?id=15265 (last visited Sept. 12, 2022).

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potentials (“CMAPs”)],[18] absent [sensory nerve action potentials (“SNAPs”)],[19] and absent
tibial H-wave. The findings do not suggest classic [GBS], but most likely [] acute motor and
sensory axonal neuropathy (AMSAN), a variant of GBS.”20 Id. at 530. A lumbar puncture
showed protein level in her cerebrospinal fluid was elevated, 105 mg/dL [nl 5-45 mg/dL],
consistent with albuminocytologic dissociation. Id. at 521, 714; Pet. Ex. 3 at 836. Dr. Nupur
Ghoshal, the attending neurologist, concluded that all of Petitioner’s findings were “consistent
with the diagnosis of GBS.” Pet. Ex. 3 at 836. Dr. Ghoshal noted that Petitioner’s “mild
asymmetry and early involvement of [her] upper extremities [made] for a less typical
presentation,” and that there was no “bulbar involvement.” Id. However, Dr. Ghoshal also
documented that Petitioner had a “rapid progression since time of onset,” and that all findings
were “consistent with the diagnosis of GBS.” Id. Petitioner received IVIG from October 12 to
October 14, 2016. Pet. Ex. 2 at 530.

        On October 13, 2016, Dr. Naeem Muhammad administered a modified barium swallow
assessment with video fluoroscopy due to Petitioner’s suspected ileus21 due to her GBS. Pet. Ex.
11 at 20. Petitioner’s swallowing was abnormal, characterized by premature spillage, nasal
regurgitation, and base of tongue weakness. Id.

        The next day, October 14, 2016, Dr. Wilks documented Petitioner’s GBS was “[l]ikely
[secondary to] recent Pneumovax administration.” Pet. Ex. 2 at 678. Petitioner’s examination
was significant for worsening weakness. Id. Dr. Wilks was concerned about “impending
respiratory failure;” however, he noted “no emergent need for in[tu]bation at this time but patient
would benefit from escalation of care” in the intensive care unit (“ICU”). Id. Petitioner was
transferred to the ICU and her respiratory signs were closely monitored. Id. at 530, 708.

18
   Compound muscle action potential (“CMAP”) is “a group of almost simultaneous action
potentials from several muscle fibers in the same area; they are usually evoked by stimulation of
the supplying motor nerve and are recorded as one multipeaked summated action potential.”
Compound Muscle Action Potential, Dorland’s Med. Dictionary Online,
https://www.dorlandsonline.com/dorland/definition?id=99678 (last visited Sept. 12, 2022).
19
   Sensory nerve action potential (“SNAP”) is “a compound nerve action potential recorded from
a sensory nerve or from the sensory branch of a mixed nerve.” Sensory Potential, Dorland’s
Med. Dictionary Online, https://www.dorlandsonline.com/dorland/definition?id=99720 (last
visited Sept. 12, 2022).
20
  The AMSAN variant of GBS is defined in the Qualifications and Aids to Interpretation of the
Vaccine Injury Table, relative to the Table claim arising out of GBS following administration of
the influenza (“flu”) vaccination, as “an axonal form of GBS that is similar to [acute motor
axonal neuropathy (“AMAN”)], but also affects the sensory nerves and roots.” §
100.3(c)(15)(ii).
21
   An ileus is an “intestinal obstruction that is due to a nonmechanical cause, such as paralysis
and failure of peristalsis.” Ileus, Dorland’s Med. Dictionary Online,
https://www.dorlandsonline.com/dorland/definition?id=24743 (last visited Sept. 12, 2022).

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Petitioner’s breathing stabilized and she was transferred out of the ICU on October 16. Id. at
685.

        Petitioner was discharged from BJH to inpatient rehabilitation on October 20, 2016, with
a principal diagnosis of GBS. Pet. Ex. 3 at 795. At discharge, neurologist, Dr. Richard
Sommerville noted that Petitioner likely had an AMSAN variant of GBS, rather than classic
GBS. Id. Petitioner had also developed pharyngeal dysphagia without aspiration and an ileus
during her stay at BJH. Id.; Pet. Ex. 2 at 538.

        Petitioner was admitted to Missouri Baptist Medical Center (“Missouri Baptist”) for
acute rehabilitation on October 20, 2016. Pet. Ex. 3 at 16. Her admitting diagnosis was GBS,
noting she received the Prevnar 13 vaccine five days before the onset of symptoms. Id. at 16,
327. Petitioner’s sensation to light touch was absent in her legs and feet and impaired in her
hands. Id. at 819. At her physical therapy (“PT”) evaluation performed on October 21, 2016, by
Michelle Hodel, Doctorate in PT (“DPT”), Petitioner stated that she had “numbness all over,”
tingling of her hands and mouth, and fatigue. Id. at 332, 339. Sensation was impaired bilaterally
to her lower extremities. Id. at 333. She was limited in performing passive range of motion due
to weakness and ataxia. Id. Strength testing in her lower extremities was abnormally decreased
in the hips, knees, and ankles bilaterally. Id. Balance was also very impaired, rated as poor in
the seated or standing position, requiring a two person assist to stand. Id. at 334. Her functional
ambulation score was zero, indicating that she was “not able to walk at all or need[ed] assistance
from two people.” Id. She was unable to walk, and demonstrated “severe weakness, ataxia,
fatigue, [and] decrease[d] balance.” Id. at 335; 800. Prior to her illness, she had worked full-
time,22 been able to drive, and complete all activities of daily living. Id. at 333.

       On October 22, 2016, Petitioner had a psychiatric consultation for supportive care “to
cope with profound life changes from her [GBS].” Pet. Ex. 3 at 193. Petitioner had no history of
“mood or personality disorders.” Id. However, she was experiencing acute anxiety associated
with shortness of breath and depressed mood due to her concerns that she would “not be able to
recover her [prior] levels of independent functioning.” Id. at 194.

       Petitioner was able to tolerate PT well and complete her therapy sessions from October
22 to October 25, 2016. See Pet. Ex. 3 at 336-80.

        Dr. Mohammad Firozi, a gastroenterologist, saw Petitioner on October 25, 2016 for
“abdominal distension, abdominal pain[,] and nausea.” Pet. Ex. 3 at 49. Dr. Firozi noted that
Petitioner’s gastrointestinal symptoms were due to an ileus, which was secondary to her
immobility and GBS. Id. at 50. A nasogastric tube was placed, and Petitioner was not allowed
to eat or drink. Id. Serial X-rays were ordered daily to monitor her ileus. Id.

22
  Petitioner worked full-time as a loan assistant. Pet. Ex. 3 at 345. Her hobbies included
watching sports, antique shopping, and refinishing furniture. Id. She also enjoyed playing the
piano. Id. at 346.

                                                 9
        Dr. Courtney Shands, a urologist, examined Petitioner on October 26, 2016, regarding
hematuria and urinary retention. Pet. Ex. 3 at 52. Dr. Shands consult notes indicated that
Petitioner “had a pneumonia shot a couple weeks ago and was [functioning normally] at that
time. [S]he began having weakness and numbness and now has full-blown [GBS].” Id.
Additionally, Petitioner had experienced incontinence. Id. On examination, Petitioner could
“barely get her arm to extend forward” to shake Dr. Shands’ hand. Id. at 53. Dr. Shands’
impression was that Petitioner’s “neurologic symptoms d[id] not appear to have stabilized yet.”
Id. She also noted a urinary tract infection due to Escherichia coli (“E. coli”).23 Id. Antibiotics
and supportive care were recommended. Id.

        A nursing rehabilitation note from October 26, 2016, indicated that Petitioner had not had
therapy that day due to her medical issues and fatigue. Pet. Ex. 3 at 614. She had a nasogastric
tube for decompression of her bowel and intravenous (“IV”) fluids because she was not
permitted to eat or drink. Id. She was receiving IV antibiotics for her urinary tract infection but
had “bright red bloody urine.” Id. at 625. She was incontinent of her bladder and bowel. Id. at
627. Accordingly, PT was put on hold on that day due to bed rest. Id. at 381-82.

        Due to concerns about Petitioner’s hematuria and ileus, and her inability to participate
fully in therapy, she was transferred to an acute medical unit of Missouri Baptist on October 27,
2016. Pet. Ex. 3 at 638. Diagnosis on admission was acute ileus. Id. at 1019. Dr. Thishara
Merza, an internist, noted that Petitioner had been diagnosed with E. coli hemorrhagic cystitis,
and that her urine cultures also contained Morganella morganii (“M. morganii”)24 bacteria. Id.
at 1061. On evaluation, Petitioner was able to move her arms and legs slightly but could not
move her toes or walk. Id. Petitioner was diagnosed with colonic pseudo-obstruction and
Ogilvie syndrome.25 Id. at 1041. Her additional diagnosis remained GBS (AMSAN/GBS
variant). Id.

23
   Escherichia coli is “a common facultative organism of the intestines” that can “produc[e]
fevers and diarrhea . . . . The fever-causing strains are found in urinary tract infections,
abscesses, conjunctivitis, and occasionally septicemic conditions . . . . Shiga toxin-producing
groups (STEC, formerly called enterohemorrhagic, or EHEC) cause acute bloody diarrhea and
hemolytic-uremic syndrome.” Escherichia Coli, Dorland’s Med. Dictionary Online,
https://www.dorlandsonline.com/dorland/definition?id=73835 (last visited Sept. 12, 2022).
24
   Morganella morganii is a type of bacteria that “is a primary cause of urinary tract infections
and is an opportunistic pathogen, causing secondary infections of the blood, respiratory tract, and
wounds.” Morganella Morganii, Dorland’s Med. Dictionary Online,
https://www.dorlandsonline.com/dorland/definition?id=89584 (last visited Sept. 12, 2022).
25
   Ogilvie syndrome is the “distention of the colon resembling that caused by obstruction, but
without evidence of mechanical obstruction; it is usually due to a defect in the sympathetic nerve
supply.” Ogilvie Syndrome, Dorland’s Med. Dictionary Online,
https://www.dorlandsonline.com/dorland/definition?id=111096 (last visited Sept. 12, 2022).

                                                 10
        That same day, October 27, 2016, Petitioner was seen by podiatrist, Dr. Steven Frank, for
a follow-up of a bilateral bunion surgery done five to six weeks prior. Pet. Ex. 13 at 6. Dr.
Frank documented that Petitioner had “no strength to the toes/feet” and “no muscle strength to
toes/feet/ankles bilaterally.” Pet. Ex. 3 at 242.

        After receiving treatment for her gastrointestinal issues, Petitioner’s condition stabilized
and she was discharged from the acute medical care unit and re-admitted to the acute
rehabilitation unit at Missouri Baptist on November 1, 2016 for GBS, as well as generalized
weakness and functional deficits. Pet. Ex. 3 at 1547. A PT evaluation done November 2, by
Matthew Schleuter, Master of PT (“MPT”), showed that Petitioner continued to have diminished
sensation in her legs. Id. at 2496, 2502. Balance remained poor in seated and standing positions.
Id. at 2497. Diagnosis remained GBS. Id. at 2508.

         On November 10, 2016, Petitioner had an episode of possible aspiration. Pet. Ex. 3 at
2473. A pulmonary consultation by Dr. Thomas Spence Jr. was obtained due to cough and
shortness of breath. Id. at 1557. Supplemental oxygen, bronchodilators, and anti-inflammatory
treatment was initiated. Id. at 1558. By November 22, Dr. Spence documented that Petitioner
felt that she was “getting better.” Id. at 2191. He also noted that Petitioner had “more sensation
in her legs.” Id. at 2191, 2193. She continued to be seen by psychiatry for follow-ups. Id. at
1934-36. On November 29, 2016, her mood and affect were improved, and Petitioner reported
feeling “quite positive regarding her PT progress.” Id. at 1936. Throughout this rehabilitation
admission, Petitioner’s diagnosis remained GBS.

        On December 6, 2016, Petitioner was transferred to Cedar Ridge Health Care Center
(“Cedar Ridge”), a skilled nursing facility. Pet. Ex. 5 at 1424. Upon admission, Petitioner’s
diagnoses included GBS and generalized muscle weakness. Id. An initial PT assessment by
Lori Toennies, PT, revealed that Petitioner required maximum assistance of two people to sit and
that she was unable to walk. Id. A progress note from December 12, 2016 documented that
Petitioner was able to stand upright in the standing frame for three minutes. Id. at 1427. In the
next progress note, dated December 19, Petitioner was able to stand upright for three minutes
without a drop in her blood pressure. Id. at 1430. She was progressing “extremely slow due to
low functional ability and low muscle tone.” Id. at 1431. Petitioner was making progress in
tolerating a seated position for up to three hours several times a day. Id. However, her blood
pressure continued “to drop with standing activities in the standing frame.” Id. The physical
therapist deemed her prognosis as “excellent due to progress[] with sitting tolerance.” Id.
Additionally, Petitioner was motivated to participate in her therapy. Id. On December 22, 2016,
Petitioner continued to demonstrate progress and had improving upper body and trunk control.
Id. at 1434. She was slowly making progress in lower body strength, but she continued “to have
difficulty standing.” Id. On December 29, Petitioner was able to lift her lower extremities, hold
a seated position, and stand for five minutes. Id. at 1436. Her prognosis remained excellent due
to her “good progress with sitting balance and transfers.” Id. Her diagnosis remained GBS.

       While at Cedar Ridge, on December 29, 2016, Petitioner had her first follow-up visit with
neurologist Dr. Sommerville since her prior hospitalization on October 20, approximately two
months earlier. Pet. Ex. 6 at 9. At the visit, Petitioner reported feeling weak. Id. at 10. Dr.
Sommerville thought that Petitioner’s quantitative motor testing was “markedly worse” than

                                                11
when he had last seen Petitioner. Id. at 11. He questioned whether Petitioner’s condition had
worsened or whether she had reached the nadir of her illness after her hospital discharge. Id. Dr.
Sommerville also questioned whether Petitioner had “an axonal or demyelination process.” Id.
She was still unable to walk. Id. Dr. Sommerville recommended that Petitioner undergo further
testing, including an EMG. Id. at 6, 11.

                      b.      2017 Records

         On January 18, 2017, Petitioner underwent an EMG with Dr. Sommerville. Pet. Ex. 6 at
7. The results were again consistent with a demyelinating polyneuropathy, “as supported by the
severely prolonged distal latencies and severe slowing of conduction velocity,” with “relatively
little axon loss.” Id.

        Petitioner was discharged from Cedar Ridge on January 23, 2017, to be re-admitted to
BJH for IV steroid treatment. Pet. Ex. 5 at 1448. At the time of discharge, she was able to stand
upright for five minutes without assistance, but she continued to have decreased muscle strength
in both lower extremities. Id. Her PT records note that her diagnosis remained GBS. Id.

        Petitioner was re-admitted to BJH from January 23 to 27, 2017 for IV methyl prednisone
steroid treatment for CIDP. Pet. Ex. 2 at 1723, 1725, 1727, 1735, 1738-40. On admission,
Petitioner was evaluated by Dr. Ahmed Bamaga, who noted that Petitioner had been previously
treated “in the [F]all of 2016 for numbness that started a week after a pneumonia shot.” Id. at
1775. Dr. Bamaga stated, “Dr. Sommerville was not happy with her improvement and given the
chronicity[,] . . . she was diagnosed officially with CIDP after reviewing the repeated EMG
nerve conduction.” Id. On examination, Petitioner had difficulty lifting her legs off the bed. Id.
at 1776. During this hospitalization, Petitioner also received IVIG. Id. at 1778. At discharge,
Petitioner was told to continue steroid treatments once a week for two months and follow up with
Dr. Sommerville as scheduled. Id. at 1779.

        Upon discharge from BJH, Petitioner was re-admitted to Cedar Ridge from January 28
through March 2, 2017 for continued rehabilitation. Pet. Ex. 5 at 1565. During this admission,
Petitioner’s medical diagnoses included CIDP. Id. Upon discharge, Petitioner was able to stand
with upper extremity support. Id. at 1577. Petitioner was discharged home on March 2, 2017,
with home health therapy services once she reached the sixty-day limit on skilled nursing facility
care covered by insurance. Id.

        Petitioner was re-admitted to BJH on March 5, 2017 because she was unable to care for
herself at home. Pet. Ex. 7 at 42. Petitioner reported “stable to mild neurologic improvement”
due to steroids she received in January 2017, but she was “still unable to do fine motor
movements with [her] hands, unable to transfer, sit up, stand without assistance or take more
than 2 steps with full assistance.” Id. at 50. Petitioner’s diagnosis upon admission was CIDP.
Id. A neurological examination revealed paresthesias in both hands, numbness in both feet, right
foot drop, and inability to elicit deep tendon reflexes. Id. at 46.

       On March 6, 2017, Petitioner became hypotensive, requiring IV fluids and a
norepinephrine drip. Pet. Ex. 7 at 42, 55. The episode was thought to be caused by either

                                               12
autonomic dysfunction or adrenal insufficiency. Id. at 55. She was transferred to the Medical
ICU (“MICU”) for monitoring. Id. at 42. Regarding the diagnosis of CIDP, Dr. Nguyet Nguyen
documented,

         patient originally presented to BJH with complaint of [right] hand numbness 1
         week after a pneumonia shot. This numbness progressed throughout her hands
         and feet and eventually also progressed to weakness. During this admission[,]
         patient was originally diagnosed with [GBS] in [suggestion of] pneumonia shot.
         She was treated with IVIG and discharged to [Missouri Baptist] for 6 weeks of
         rehab and then to a [skilled nursing facility]. Patient strength was not returning
         very well and outpatient neurologist ended up performing an EMG 1/2017 and
         ultimately diagnosing her with CIDP. Patient was then admitted to the neurology
         service 1/2017 for high dose aggressive steroid treatment.

Id. Petitioner received high dose steroid treatment. Id. at 55. The pneumococcal vaccine was
listed under allergies. Id.

         During the hospitalization, Petitioner was diagnosed with deep vein thrombosis and
received treatment with Eliquis. Pet. Ex. 7 at 47-48, 55, 102. Petitioner was evaluated by DPT
Elisabeth Martin on March 7, 2017. Id. at 35. Petitioner was able to “walk short distance . . .
with maximal assistance.” Id. Sensation to her legs and feet were impaired. Id. at 36. Petitioner
was discharged on March 16, 2017, with plans to seek continued care in a skilled nursing
facility. Id. at 56.

                        c.     201826 to Present

       Petitioner presented to Dr. Sommerville for a follow-up for CIDP on January 10, 2019.
Pet. Ex. 35 at 4. Dr. Sommerville noted Petitioner had improved and he observed that it “does
not sound like she is really limited in any way by this.” Id. Dr. Sommerville recommended a
follow-up in six months. Id. at 5.

      On April 16, 2019, Petitioner had a routine office visit with PA-C Boyer. Pet. Ex. 36 at
96. Mr. Boyer noted Petitioner’s CIDP was an “unstable chronic condition” and increased her
gabapentin prescription. Id.

        On July 18, 2019, Petitioner again followed up with Dr. Sommerville for CIDP. Pet. Ex.
22 at 6. By this point, Petitioner was walking without assistance, had been off all corticosteroids
for six months, and had not had any worsening of her function. Id. Dr. Sommerville noted that
Petitioner’s balance was good and that she was active in the gym. Id. He recommended
gabapentin for nerve pain at night. Id. Dr. Sommerville stated, “I am hopeful that this is a
monophasic course of CIDP.” Id. at 7.

        On January 23, 2020, Petitioner returned to Dr. Sommerville. Pet. Ex. 35 at 15.
Petitioner had no recurrence of any CIDP symptoms. Id. Dr. Sommerville recommended a

26
     Few medical records were provided from 2018. See Pet. Ex. 36 at 105-137.

                                                 13
follow-up in one year. Id. at 16. Petitioner followed up with Dr. Sommerville on July 7, 2021
due to “chronic issues with right hand.” Id. at 17. Petitioner stated she had some difficulty
typing, but no numbness or pain. Id. Dr. Sommerville’s impression was “monophasic CIDP,”
“with continued absence of any signs of a relapse.” Id. at 20. Petitioner exhibited normal
strength in her right hand. Id.

        Petitioner presented to PA-C Boyer on June 24, 2021 for a routine follow-up. Pet. Ex. 36
at 11. Petitioner declined the influenza (“flu”) and pneumococcal vaccines, but she was up to
date on her Covid-19 vaccinations. Id. Her CIDP was noted as stable at the time. Id. The
pneumococcal vaccine was listed under allergies associated with CIDP. Id. at 12.

       D.      Petitioner’s Hearing Testimony

        Prior to her illness in 2016, Petitioner worked full-time as a loan assistant with a bank.
Tr. 26. Petitioner testified on June 9, 2022, that after she received the Prevnar 13 vaccine in
2016, she was diagnosed with GBS. Tr. 15. After several months of receiving treatment for her
GBS, Dr. Sommerville changed her diagnosis to CIDP. Tr. 16. Petitioner stated Dr.
Sommerville explained that “CIDP is the chronic version of GBS.” Id.

        Petitioner stated her diagnosis remains CIDP and she currently has “numbness in [her]
right hand and [her] right foot.” Tr. 25. She is able to walk without assistance and takes
gabapentin. Id. Petitioner currently works full time but was unable to work for approximately
nine months after her injury began. Tr. 26-27. During that nine-month period, Petitioner was in
the hospital or in a rehabilitation facility receiving therapy. Tr. 27. After leaving the
rehabilitation facility, Petitioner stayed with her sister. Id. She finally returned to her own home
after four years. Id. Petitioner was unable to drive for three years after her diagnosis but is now
able to do so. Tr. 28.

       E.      Expert Reports27

               1.      Petitioner’s Expert, Dr. Daniel Stein

                       a.     Background and Qualifications

        Dr. Stein is board certified in neurology. Pet. Ex. 15 at 1; Pet. Ex. 16 at 1. After
receiving his B.S. in neuroscience from the University of Rochester, he attended Albany Medical
College where he received his M.D. Pet. Ex. 16 at 1. He completed an internship in internal
medicine, a residency in neurology, and a fellowship in immunology of neuromuscular diseases.
Id. Dr. Stein currently works in private practice as a neurologist and has for the last twenty-five
years. Pet. Ex. 15 at 2. He is also a Clinical Assistant Professor at Florida State University
College of Medicine. Id.; Pet. Ex. 16 at 1. For the past five years, Dr. Stein has diagnosed and

27
  Although the undersigned has reviewed all of the expert reports, this Ruling does not include
every detail of each expert’s opinions. Instead, the undersigned focuses on the material opinions,
as they relate to the two relevant issues, diagnosis and causation.

                                                14
treated approximately 50 patients with GBS and regularly presents on GBS pathogenesis and
treatment. Pet. Ex. 15 at 2.

                         b.       Opinion28

                                i.       Diagnosis

        Dr. Stein opined that Petitioner’s diagnosis was AMSAN, a subtype of GBS. Pet. Ex. 15
at 11. “GBS is not one syndrome but a variety of subtypes.” Id. at 10. “[GBS] is a form of
[AIDP].” Id. Petitioner’s initial presentation was consistent with GBS, however she failed to
improve. Id. at 11. Dr. Stein stated, “[a]lthough the subsequent diagnosis of CIDP supplanted
the GBS diagnosis in the more recent medical record[s], it does not mean that she did not have
GBS at the outset of her illness. In fact, she did have GBS and was treated appropriately for that
condition.” Id. Dr. Stein concluded that Petitioner developed an autoimmune peripheral
neuropathy which was appropriately diagnosed as GBS during the initial presentation, and
eventually revised to CIDP. Id.

                               ii.       Causation: Althen Prong One

       With regard to Althen Prong One, Dr. Stein stated that GBS is an autoimmune disorder
which results due to a cross-reaction of an antibody with epitopes in the peripheral nervous
system. Pet. Ex. 15 at 7. The mechanism for the development of GBS rests on the concept of
molecular mimicry. Id. He stated, “[o]ne potential cause of post-vaccination GBS is that the
epitopes present in vaccine antigens promote the production of antibodies that react with similar
epitopes present on myelin, Schwann cells[,] or on motor neurons themselves.” Id.

        Dr. Stein cited Yuki and Hartung, who describe molecular mimicry between
Campylobacter jejuni (“C. jejuni”) bacterial infection and the peripheral-nerve components as
“appear[ing] to elicit autoantibodies and induce the development of the axonal subtype of
[GBS].” Pet. Ex. 17o at 9. “The specific mechanism for immunopathogenesis is cross-reaction
of antibodies with gangliosides present at the nodes of Ranvier, which then triggers the attack of
macrophages that can invade the myelin sheath and promote its detachment.” Pet. Ex. 15 at 7
(citing Pet. Ex. 17o at 4).

        In addition to Yuki and Hartung, Dr. Stein cited several other medical articles in support
of his opinion as to causation. Hoshino et al.29 documented a case study of a 36-year-old man
admitted to the hospital for urinary retention and muscle weakness after receiving the H1N1 flu
vaccine. Pet. Ex. 17p at 1. The patient was diagnosed with GBS and acute disseminated
encephalomyelitis (“ADEM”). Id. The authors stated GBS is a neuroinflammatory disorder

28
     Dr. Stein did not testify at the hearing on June 9-10, 2021.
29
  Takea Hoshino et al., Simultaneous Development of Acute Disseminated Encephalomyelitis
and Guillain-Barré Syndrome Associated with H1N1 09 Influenza Vaccination, 51 Internal Med.
1595 (2012).

                                                   15
associated with immunization and “[m]olecular mimicry and cross-reactive immune response is
considered to play a crucial part in their pathogenesis.” Id.

         In another article, authored by Nachamkin et al.,30 the mechanism of molecular mimicry
was also described as the cause of GBS, with respect to the H1N1 flu vaccine. Pet. Ex. 17q at 1.
Nachamkin et al. noted that GBS was strongly associated with the H1N1 flu vaccine. Id. The
authors postulated that molecular mimicry occurred due to C. jejuni contaminated vaccine
components, which elicited anti-ganglioside antibodies and induced GBS in susceptible hosts.
Id. at 2.

       In the case of the Prevnar 13 vaccine, the vaccine’s antigens are synthetic carbohydrate
compounds found on the surface of the S. pneumoniae bacteria. Pet. Ex. 15 at 8. The vaccine
contains thirteen different strains to develop various antigens. Id. Dr. Stein opined an
autoimmune response can generate when “antibodies produced upon injection of the vaccine . . .
react with an antigen that mimics the bacterial carbohydrate” also produced in the neurons of the
host. Id.

                            ii.       Causation: Althen Prong Two

        Here, Petitioner presented with AMSAN, a subtype of GBS. Pet. Ex. 15 at 11. Over
time, Petitioner’s diagnosis was revised to CIDP, and she continued to have severe neurological
deficits. Id. Dr. Stein opined, “[a]lthough the subsequent diagnosis of CIDP supplanted the
GBS diagnosis in the more recent medical record[s], it does not mean that she did not have GBS
at the outset of her illness. In fact, she did have GBS and was treated appropriately for that
condition.” Id.

        According to Dr. Stein, a syndromic diagnosis, such as GBS, “is based on numerous
clinical features at a given point in time and . . . the subsequent diagnosis of CIDP does not
negate the fact that her initial presentation was most consistent with GBS.” Pet. Ex. 15 at 11.
Dr. Stein stated the AMSAN form of GBS is “known to be associated with immunological
triggers such as viral infection or vaccination.” Id.

       Dr. Stein cited numerous case reports identifying cases of AMSAN after viral infection.
Pet. Ex. 15 at 11. Jo et al.31 documented a 21-year-old man who had a serious case of AMSAN

30
  Irving Nachamkin et al., Anti-Ganglioside Antibody Induction by Swine (A/NJ/1976/H1N1)
and Other Influenza Vaccines: Insights into Vaccine-Associated Guillain-Barré Syndrome, 198 J.
Infectious Diseases 226 (2008).
31
 Yoon-Sik Jo et al., A Case of Acute Motor and Sensory Axonal Neuropathy Following
Hepatitis A Infection, 28 J. Korean Med. Sci. 1839 (2013).

                                                16
following acute hepatitis A infection. Pet. Ex. 17z at 1. Kamihiro et al.32 reported about a two-
year-old boy who developed AMSAN after a rotavirus infection. Pet. Ex. 18a at 1. Finally, Rota
et al.33 found GBS developed post-Toscana virus infection.34 Pet. Ex. 18b at 1.

       Additionally, Dr. Stein noted that numerous physicians felt that the vaccination was
important enough to mention in the medical records as part of Petitioner’s medical history and
“History of Present Illness.” Pet. Ex. 15 at 11.

        Further, Dr. Stein opined, “[t]here were no other contributing factors, either prior to, or
after the vaccination, which contributed to her illness. The only antecedent agent prior to the
onset of her GBS was her [Prevnar 13] vaccination.” Pet. Ex. 15 at 12. Prior to vaccination on
September 22, 2016, “no peripheral neuropathy was present. And [] around the time of the
vaccination, and during the following two weeks, no other acute illness was present.
Specifically, there was no gastrointestinal or respiratory illness at that time.” Id.

                            iii.       Causation: Althen Prong Three

        Dr. Stein noted Petitioner’s rapidly progressive symptoms of GBS developed thirteen
days after the Prevnar 13 vaccination. Pet. Ex. 15 at 9. Her symptoms presented on October 5,
2016. Id. at 11. He stated “[t]his lag time between an immunologic trigger and symptom onset
is consistent with published reports of post-vaccinal GBS cases identified by the CDC.” Id. at 9.
GBS usually occurs within six weeks after vaccination, with the highest incidence reported one
to three weeks post-vaccination. Id. at 9-10.

       In support of this opinion, Dr. Stein cited the Haber et al.35 article, which reported an
onset of GBS following the Prevnar 13 vaccine up to 42 days post-vaccination. Pet. Ex. 17w at
1, 5. Haber et al. found “an apparent increase in the number of GBS reports” to the Vaccine

32
  Noriki Kamihiro et al., Acute Motor-Sensory Axonal Guillain–Barré Syndrome with
Unilateral Facial Nerve Paralysis After Rotavirus Gastroenteritis in a 2-Year-Old Boy, 18 J.
Infection Chemotherapy 119 (2011).
33
  Eugenia Rota et al., Guillain-Barré-like Axonal Polyneuropathy Associated with Toscana
Virus Infection, 96 Med. 1 (2014).
34
   Toscana virus is “a virus of the Naples serogroup of the genus Phlebovirus, an etiologic agent
of phlebotomus fever.” Toscana Virus, Dorland’s Med. Dictionary Online,
https://www.dorlandsonline.com/dorland/definition?id=118497 (last visited Sept. 12, 2022).
35
     Penina Haber et al., Vaccines and Guillain-Barré Syndrome, 32 Drug Safety 309 (2009).

                                                 17
Adverse Event Reporting System (“VAERS”)36 within six weeks following the flu and
meningococcal polysaccharide diphtheria toxoid conjugate vaccines. Id. at 5, 8. Dr. Stein next
cited Lasky et al.,37 which reported that 19 patients had received the flu vaccine within six weeks
before onset of GBS. Pet. Ex. 17g at 3.

       Dr. Stein further cited another Haber et al.38 article, which reported onset of GBS after
Prevnar 13 up to 42 days post-vaccination. Pet. Ex. 17y at 1, 5. This article reported 11 cases of
GBS following the Prevnar 13 vaccine.39 Id. at 4-5. “The median onset interval of symptoms
was 9 days” with a range of 2 to 34 days. Id. at 4.

         Petitioner’s symptoms of GBS began thirteen days post-vaccination and fit “well within
the time frame set forth by the literature.” Pet. Ex. 15 at 9. Tseng et al.40 reviewed clinical trials
of patients 65 years and older who received Prevnar 13 vaccines and noted there was one report
of GBS in a 78-year-old female “that was considered possibly related to [Prevnar 13].” Pet. Ex.
17x at 2. A review of VAERS found three reports of GBS after Prevnar 13 vaccination. Id. The
authors defined a risk window of between 1 and 42 days for GBS after Prevnar 13 vaccination.
Id. at 3.

                  2.     Petitioner’s Expert, Dr. Lawrence Steinman

                         a.      Background and Qualifications

        Dr. Steinman is board certified in neurology and has practiced neurology at Stanford
University for over 40 years. Pet. Ex. 23 at 1; Pet. Ex. 24 at 1-2. He received his B.A. from
Dartmouth College in 1968 and his M.D. from Harvard University in 1973. Pet. Ex. 24 at 1.
Thereafter, he completed an internship in surgery, residency in pediatrics, and residency in
pediatric and adult neurology from Stanford University Hospital, as well as three fellowships.

36
  “VAERS is a national vaccine safety surveillance program . . . . This early warning system is
designed to detect possible safety issues with U.S.-licensed vaccines. . . . VAERS data contain
information on demographics of the person vaccinated, vaccine type, and [adverse events].” Pet.
Ex. 17y at 2.
37
 Tamar Lasky et al., The Guillain-Barré Syndrome and the 1992-1993 and 1993-1994 Influenza
Vaccines, 339 New Eng. J. Med. 1797 (1998).
38
   Penina Haber et al., Post-Licensure Surveillance of 13-Valent Pneumococcal Conjugate
Vaccine (PCV13) in Adults Aged ≥ 19 Years Old in the United States, Vaccine Adverse Event
Reporting System (VAERS), June 1, 2012–December 31, 2015, 34 Vaccine 6330 (2016). This
article is also cited by Respondent. See Resp. Exs. A, Tab 5; C, Tab 11.
39
     One of the 11 cases also received a flu vaccine prior to onset. Pet. Ex. 17y at 4.
40
  Hung Fu Tseng et al., Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine Safety in Elderly Adults, 6 Open
Forum Infectious Diseases 1 (2018).

                                                   18
Id. Dr. Steinman is currently a Professor at Stanford University. Id. Dr. Steinman treats patients
with GBS and CIDP. Tr. 8. He has authored or co-authored over 500 publications. Pet. Ex. 24
at 5-47; Tr. 10-11.

                      b.      Opinion

                              i.      Diagnosis

       Dr. Steinman opined “[t]he case represents the full spectrum of inflammatory neuropathy
with an initial diagnosis of GBS. The inflammatory neuropathy became chronic and a diagnosis
of CIDP was made.” Pet. Ex. 23 at 6. Dr. Steinman agreed with Respondent’s expert, Dr.
Chaudhry, that Petitioner’s diagnosis is CIDP. Pet. Ex. 27 at 1. Where the parties disagree is
whether or not GBS and CIDP represent a spectrum of inflammatory neuropathy. Id.

         Regarding the differences between the diagnosis of GBS and CIDP, Dr. Steinman cited to
the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (“NINDS”), which is part of the
National Institute of Health (“NIH”). Dr. Steinman stated, “some neurologists want to split GBS
and CIDP into two separate entities, while others, and I include myself, are more aligned with
the NINDS fact sheet, which considers the two diseases ‘closely related’ with CIDP as the
chronic version of the acute disease, known as GBS.” Pet. Ex. 23 at 6 (citing Pet. Ex. 25a at 1).41
Experts from Johns Hopkins42 “think that CIDP is related to the more commonly known disease
[GBS]. But while GBS is generally considered more of an acute, or short-term, disease, CIDP is
considered a chronic, or long-term, disease.” Pet. Ex. 28a at 2. Dr. Steinman opined, “GBS
versus CIDP is one of the many controversies in neurology that has both ‘lumpers’ and
‘splitters[.’] However, here the ultimate diagnosis is CIDP.” Pet. Ex. 23 at 6.

        Dr. Steinman testified that Petitioner’s “injury was an inflammatory neuropathy which
spanned her initial diagnosis of GBS, which was acute, all the way to the other end of that
spectrum, the CIDP, which by its very name is chronic.” Tr. 39. Dr. Steinman stated that CIDP
was “added” to Petitioner’s diagnosis of GBS and opined that “inflammatory neuropathies form
a spectrum. At one end is the acute GBS, and the other end is the chronic CIDP.” Tr. 42.

                              ii.     Causation: Althen Prong One

      The focus of Dr. Steinman’s expert reports is how the Prevnar 13 vaccine can trigger
GBS, and subsequently CIDP, via molecular mimicry. Pet. Ex. 23 at 7. He reviewed the
components of the vaccine and “what’s known to be targeted by the human immune system in

41
   Nat’l Inst. Neurological Disorders & Stroke, Guillain-Barré Syndrome Fact Sheet
https://www.ninds.nih.gov/guillain-barre-syndrome-fact-sheet (last updated Aug. 26, 2014).
42
   John Hopkins Med., Chronic Inflammatory Demyelinating Polyradiculoneuropathy,
https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases/chronic-inflammatory-
demyelinating-polyradiculoneuropathy (last visited May 3, 2021).

                                                19
both GBS and CIDP.” Tr. 40. Regarding the mechanism of causation, he stated molecular
mimicry “appears in both.” Tr. 51.

        Dr. Steinman proposed two mechanisms whereby molecular mimicry can trigger GBS
following Prevnar 13 vaccination. The first involves glycerophosphate, particularly
phosphoglycerol, and its linkage in Prevnar 13 to the pneumococcal polysaccharide antigen. Pet.
Ex. 23 at 8-15. The second involves homology between CRM197 in the vaccine and Contactin-1,
a protein found in humans. Id. at 16-23. Additionally, Dr. Steinman opined that the adjuvant
alum in the Prevnar 13 vaccine contributes to the development of inflammatory neuropathy. Id.
at 8, 23-25.

                                        1.      Phosphoglycerol43 in Serotypes 18C

        The first mechanism described by Dr. Steinman involves homology between
phosphoglycerol present in serotype 18C in the Prevnar 13 vaccine and phospholipids,
specifically glycerophosphate and glycerocholine in the human myelin sheath. Pet. Ex. 23 at 8-
15. “The polysaccharides that are contained in Prevnar [13] are complex and allow for the
chemical attachment of capsular polysaccharides via the glycerol moieties[44] known as
phosphoglycerol and phosphocholine (or phosphatidylcholine).” Id. at 9.

        Based upon information obtained from the vaccine patent,45 Dr. Steinman explained that
the glycerol phosphate side chains in the vaccine are necessary for its immunogenicity.46 Pet.
Ex. 23 at 9-10 (citing Pet. Ex. 25f). Dr. Steinman cited an article by Chang et al.47 to support his
opinion that the phosphoglycerol component is preserved during the process of making the
vaccine. Id. at 12. Chang et al. wrote “it is shown that glycerol-phosphate must be preserved for
conserving adequate antigenicity of the 18C capsular polysaccharide.” Pet. Ex. 25l at 1.

43
  Phospho- is a “prefix[] indicating the presence of phosphorus in a compound.” Stedman’s
Medical Dictionary 1486 (28th ed. 2006). Glycerol is “[a] sweet viscous fluid obtained by the
saponification of fats and fixed oils; used as a solvent, as a skin emollient, . . . and as a vehicle
and sweetening agent.” Stedman’s at 820.
44
   Moiety is defined as “any part or portion.” Moiety, Dorland’s Med. Dictionary Online,
https://www.dorlandsonline.com/dorland/definition?id=31829 (last visited Sept. 12, 2022).
45
  The patent is filed as Petitioner’s Exhibit 25f. The description of the glycerol phosphate side
chain in 18C can be found at page 34, and a diagram of the chemical structure is at page 6.
46
  Immunogenicity is defined as “the property that endows a substance with the capacity to
provoke an immune response, or the degree to which a substance possesses this property.”
Immunogenicity, Dorland’s Med. Dictionary Online, https://www.dorlandsonline.com/dorland/
definition?id=24893 (last visited Sept. 12, 2022).
47
  Janoi Chang et al., Relevance of O-acetyl and Phosphoglycerol Groups for the Antigenicity of
the Streptococcus pneumoniae Serotype 18C Capsular Polysaccharide, 30 Vaccine 7090 (2012).

                                                  20
        Dr. Steinman explained how the data from the vaccine patent and the studies described
above relate to the pathogenesis of GBS and CIDP. He opined that phospholipids48 are the
targets of antibodies in both GBS and in CIDP. Pet. Ex. 23 at 10. He asserted that antibodies to
phosphoglycerol structures interact with myelin components triggering GBS. Id. Based on his
own research, Dr. Steinman explained that “phospholipids are components of the myelin sheath
in humans, and they are targeted by antibodies” leading to neuroinflammation in GBS and
subsequent CIDP. Id.

        In support of this aspect of his opinion, Dr. Steinman relied on several articles. The first
was authored by Ho et al.49 and Dr. Steinman is also a named author. Pet. Ex. 25j. The authors
showed that in the demyelinating disease multiple sclerosis (“MS”), autoantibodies primarily
target a phosphoglycerol component of myelin. Pet. Ex. 23 at 10. The “findings indicate that
myelin phospholipids are targeted by autoimmune responses in MS.” Pet. Ex. 25j at 9.

        In Gilburd et al.,50 the authors “studied the reactivity of GBS sera with various
phospholipids which are known to be important constituents of myelin, and serve as autoantigens
in other autoimmune conditions.” Pet. Ex. 25g at 2. Six of the 16 patients with GBS had
autoantibodies to various phospholipids. Id. at 2, 5. However, the authors suggested this was
“probably [] a result of [] myelin damage rather than [the] cause of demyelination.” Id. at 2, 6.

        In another study by Nakos et al.,51 all nine GBS patients in the study had anti-
phospholipid antibodies and no such antibodies were detected in the nine control subjects. Pet.
Ex. 25h at 1. The authors “detected a wide range of anti-phospholipid antibodies in patients with
idiopathic GBS,” and “[a]ll nine GBS patients developed anti-phospholipid antibodies directed
against at least one lipid during the course of the disease.” Id. at 5. They wrote “[t]he
association of GBS and certain autoimmune diseases, including systemic lupus erythematosus, is
well recognized,” and they noted “[h]igh levels of anti-phospholipid antibodies were expressed
in a patient with lupus like syndrome who developed secondary GBS.” Id. at 6. The authors
explained that “[i]t is thought that whenever polyneuropathy occurs in the context of
autoimmune diseases, mainly in systemic lupus erythematosus, where anti-phospholipid activity

48
   Phospholipid is defined as “any lipid that contains phosphorus, including those with a glycerol
backbone (phosphoglycerides and plasmalogens) . . . . Phospholipids are the major form of lipid
in all cell membranes.” Phospholipid, Dorland’s Med. Dictionary Online,
https://www.dorlandsonline.com/dorland/definition?id=38759 (last visited Sept. 12, 2022).
49
  Peggy P. Ho et al., Identification of Naturally Occurring Fatty Acids of the Myelin Sheath
That Resolve Neuroinflammation, 4 Sci. Translational Med. 1 (2012).
50
 B. Gilburd et al., Autoantibodies to Phospholipids and Brain Extract in Patients with the
Guillain-Barré Syndrome: Cross-Reactive or Pathogenic?, 16 Autoimmunity 23 (1993).
51
  G. Nakos et al., Anti-Phospholipid Antibodies in Serum from Patients with Guillain-Barré
Syndrome, 31 Intensive Care Med. 1401 (2005).

                                                 21
already exists, these antibodies can cross-react with phospholipids and mediate damage in neural
structures containing the particular phospholipids.” Id. Of note, the GBS patients in the Nakos
et al. study had primary GBS (relevant here), not the secondary form like that which occurs in
patients with lupus. Id. The authors also observed anti-ganglioside antibodies, but only in 44%
of the patients. Id. They concluded,

                [i]t is not well understood whether these anti-phospholipid antibodies play
        a role in the pathogenesis of the polyneuropathy or represent a part of a more
        extensive immunoreaction that takes place in the GBS. However,
        immunopathology in autopsies suggests that antibody mediated injury is a
        predominant disorder in the demyelinating form of GBS. The immune attack is
        directed against components of Schwann cell membrane and is accompanied by
        the characteristic feature of vesicular demyelination. Therefore, it is crucial to
        investigate how anti-phospholipid antibodies are related to specific antigens in
        Schwann cell membrane.

               ....

                Our findings suggest that in GBS there is a more extensive immune
        reaction, beyond the well known antiganglioside production, which has been
        related to the demyelination of the peripheral nerves.

Id. at 6-7.

       In summary, Dr. Steinman’s theory is based on molecular mimicry, and he posits that
antibodies to the phosphoglycerol structures present in the components of Prevnar 13 interact
with phospholipids in the myelin components of peripheral nerves, triggering GBS and CIDP.
Pet. Ex. 23 at 15; Tr. 83.

                                      2.      CRM197 and Contactin-1

        The second homology posited by Dr. Steinman is between the protein carrier in the
vaccine, CRM197,52 and Contactin-1,53 a protein found in humans. Pet. Ex. 23 at 16. Prevnar 13
is a conjugate vaccine in which the individual polysaccharides of the capsular antigens of S.

52
  Protein carrier “CRM197 is a nontoxic variant of diphtheria toxin isolated from cultures of
Corynebacterium diphtheriae strain C7 (β197) grown in a casamino acids and yeast extract-
based medium or in a chemically-defined medium.” Pet. Ex. 25e at 22 (Prevnar 13 package
insert).
53
  Contactin-1, or CNTN1, “is a key axonal adhesion molecule, which interacts with CNTNAP1
(previously known as Caspr1) on the axon and neurofascin-155 on the glial side, and is essential
for the formation of the paranodal septate-like junction.” Pet. Ex. 25r at 2 (Yumako Miura et al.,
Contactin I IgG4 Associates to Chronic Inflammatory Demyelinating Polyneuropathy with
Sensory Ataxia, 138 Brain 1484 (2015)).

                                                22
pneumoniae are linked to a non-toxic diphtheria CRM197 protein. Id. at 7. “CRM197 is a
nontoxic variant of diphtheria toxin,” used as a protein carrier which makes the vaccine more
immunogenic. Id. (quoting Pet. Ex. 25e). “CRM197 differs from diphtheria toxin by only one
amino acid,” and therefore, it “is not toxic, though like diphtheria toxoid[,] it is quite
immunogenic.” Id.

        Again, based on his own research, Dr. Steinman determined that molecular mimicry
might occur between CRM197 and Contactin-1, a molecule that has been identified in patients
with GBS and CIDP. Pet. Ex. 23 at 16. He testified that “there [are] antibodies to Contactin-1 in
both GBS and CIDP.” Tr. 58. Dr. Steinman relied on Miura et al., a study done on patients with
CIDP. Pet. Ex. 23 at 25-26 (citing Pet. Ex. 25r). Prior to the Miura et al. study, another group of
researchers reported finding autoantibodies against Contactin-1 in patients with CIDP. Pet. Ex.
25r at 1. The patients had an aggressive onset and did not respond well to treatment with IVIG.
Id. Based on the findings reported in that study, Miura et al. set out to replicate the finding of
Contactin-1 autoantibodies and determine its relevance. Id. Miura et al. focused their research
on patients with CIDP, but used sera from patients with GBS, MS, and healthy patients as
controls. Id. at 2. Anti-Contactin-1 Immunoglobulin G (“IgG”) antibodies were found in 16 of
the 533 patients with CIDP, with 13 of the 533 CIDP patients (2.4%) having anti-Contactin-1
IgG antibodies. Id. at 3, 5, 6 tbl.2; Tr. 52. They also found that five of the 200 patients with
GBS had anti-Contactin-1 IgG antibodies. Pet. Ex. 25r at 3, 6 tbl.2; Tr. 54.

        The Miura et al. authors explained the theory of pathogenesis relevant to Dr. Steinman’s
theory, as it relates to Contactin-1. They stated,

                 [c]ell adhesion molecules play a crucial role in the formation of the nodes
        of Ranvier and in the rapid propagation of the nerve impulses along myelinated
        axons. In the peripheral nerves, the domain organization of myelinated axons
        depends on specific axo-glial contacts between the axonal membrane and
        Schwann cells at nodes, paranodes[,] and juxtaparanodes. Recently, we showed
        that some of the patients with CIDP present IgG autoantibodies directed against
        the nodes of Ranvier or the paranodal axo-glial apparatus. Notably, we identified
        . . . [C]ontactin 1 (CNTN1) as [one of] the targets of autoantibodies in some
        patients with CIDP.

Pet. Ex. 25r at 2.

      Based on this information about the potential importance of Contactin-1, Dr. Steinman
conducted a BLAST54 search to determine whether there was homology between CRM197 in the

54
  A BLAST (Basic Local Alignment Search Tool) search “finds regions of similarity between
biological sequences. The program compares nucleotide or protein sequences to sequence
databases and calculates the statistical significance.” BLAST, https://blast.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/
Blast.cgi (last visited Sept. 12, 2022).

                                                 23
vaccine and Contactin-1.55 Pet. Ex. 23 at 16. He found a sequence56 that “might be capable of
inducing a neuroinflammatory disease.” Id. He found “it is an epitope in diphtheria toxin, which
provides the basis for CRM197.” Id. at 22. After additional research, Dr. Steinman identified
another sequence57 that “has known cross-reactivity with epitopes described in humans” on the
Corynebacterium diphtheriae microbe. Id.

        Relying on Root-Bernstein,58 Dr. Steinman opined the two sequences he found were
significant due to five matches of identical amino acids. Tr. 66. Root-Bernstein found that
“[s]imilarities were considered to be significant if a sequence contained at least 5 identical amino
acids in 10.” Pet. Ex. 28b at 1.

                                        3.     Alum59 in Prevnar 13

        Dr. Steinman opined there is “another strong link in the peer reviewed literature to how
the alum in the Prevnar [13] vaccine can contribute to the development of the acute aspect of an
inflammatory neuropathy.” Pet. Ex. 23 at 23. By stimulating the cytokines, IL-1β and IL-18,
alum “contributes to the pathogenesis of GBS.” Id. Dr. Steinman cited Eisenbarth et al.,60
Sokolovska et al.,61 and Mannhalter et al.62 to support that aluminum adjuvants activate an
intracellular innate immune response system. Pet. Ex. 23 at 12 (citing Pet. Exs. 25v; 25w; 25x.)

55
  For a complete explanation of Dr. Steinman’s investigation, including his discussion on the
number of amino acids required for homology relevant to molecular mimicry as well as the
procedure he followed in conducted his BLAST searches, see Pet. Ex. 23 at 16-23.
56
  The sequence is “WEQAKALSVE,” which “has five of ten identical amino acids.” Pet. Ex.
23 at 21.
57
     The second sequence is “EYMAQACAGNRVRR.” Pet. Ex. 23 at 22.
58
  Robert Root-Bernstein, Rethinking Molecular Mimicry in Rheumatic Heart Disease and
Autoimmune Myocarditis: Laminin, Collagen IV, CAR, and B1AR as Initial Targets of Disease,
2 Frontiers Pediatrics 1 (2014).
59
     Alum is short for aluminum adjuvants. Pet. Ex. 23 at 23; Pet. Ex. 25w at 1; Pet. Ex. 25x at 1.
60
  Stephanie C. Eisenbarth et al., Crucial Role for the Nalp3 Inflammasome in the
Immunostimulatory Properties of Aluminum Adjuvants, 453 Nature 1122 (2008).
61
  Anna Sokolovska et al., Activation of Dendritic Cells and Induction of CD4+ T Cell
Differentiation by Aluminum-Containing Adjuvants, 25 Vaccine 4575 (2007).
62
  J.W. Mannhalter et al., Modulation of the Human Immune Response by the Non-Toxic and
Non-Pyrogenic Adjuvant Aluminum Hydroxide: Effect on Antigen Uptake and Antigen
Presentation, 61 Clinical Experimental Immunology 143 (1985).

                                                  24
        “IL-1 and IL-18 are strongly upregulated during active GBS and [] [are] reduced as GBS
resolves.” Pet. Ex. 23 at 23. Nyati et al.63 found the enzyme, matrix metalloproteinase
(“MMP”), and proinflammatory cytokine, IL-1β, “were significantly higher in GBS patients in
the progressive phase of the disease.” Pet. Ex. 25z at 2. Jander and Stoll64 documented IL-18
serum levels to be significantly higher in GBS patients than controls. Pet. Ex. 26a at 1. Dr.
Steinman opined, “[t]hese papers on the role of alum in GBS, based on human and animal
studies, constitute a strong scientific foundation for providing a basis for how the alum in the
Prevnar 13 vaccine containing alum as an adjuvant would lead to an increase in pro-
inflammatory cytokines like IL-18, and thus could induce inflammatory polyneuropathy.” Pet.
Ex. 23 at 25.

       During the hearing, however, Dr. Steinman did not expand on his theory that alum
contributed to the diagnosis of GBS and CIDP. Tr. 123.

                              iii.   Causation: Althen Prong Two

        With regard to a logical sequence of cause and effect, Dr. Steinman stated, “[g]iven the
role of antibody to either glycerophosphate or phosphocholine (phosphatidylcholine) in the
pathogenesis of GBS and given the role of immunity to [C]ontactin-1 in GBS and in CIDP, the
Prevnar 13 vaccine[] was sufficient to trigger an acute attack that became chronic.” Pet. Ex. 23
at 26.

       Moreover, in the case report by El Khatib et al.,65 the authors report one case of S.
pneumoniae associated with GBS. Pet. Ex. 28c at 1. The authors documented a 13-year-old
male, who developed septic shock due to pneumococcus with acute respiratory distress
syndrome, had neurological findings significant of GBS. Id.

       Dr. Steinman agreed with Respondent’s expert, Dr. Chaudhry, that Petitioner’s
underlying diabetes and possible nutritional deficiency—related to her gastric bypass surgery—
may have contributed to the neuropathy as well. Pet. Ex. 23 at 6. He stated that Petitioner “did
have other conditions,” however, “there was no doubt that an inflammatory neuropathy requiring
hospitalization and a major and expensive biologic IVIG never happened until the Prevnar [13]
vaccine.” Tr. 87-88. Moreover, and analysis of cerebrospinal fluid did not show an infectious
cause for Petitioner’s illness. Tr. 133.

63
  Kishan K. Nyati et al., Correlation of Matrix Metalloproteinases-2 and -9 with
Proinflammatory Cytokines in Guillain-Barré Syndrome, 88 J. Neuroscience Research 3540
(2010).
64
 Sebastian Jander & Guido Stoll, Interleukin-18 Is Induced in Acute Inflammatory
Demyelinating Polyneuropathy, 114 J. Neuroimmunology 253 (2001).
65
  Hassan El Khatib et al., Case Report: Guillain Barré Syndrome with Pneumococcus – A New
Association in Pediatrics, 11 ID Cases 26 (2018).

                                               25
                              iv.     Causation: Althen Prong Three

        Petitioner received the Prevnar 13 vaccination on September 22, 2016, and her
inflammatory neuropathy began on October 5, 2016. Pet. Ex. 23 at 25. Dr. Steinman cited
Schonberger et al.66 to show “this interval of 13 days is well within the time interval where a
different vaccine was shown to induce the acute phase of an inflammatory neuropathy (GBS).”
Id. at 26. Schonberger et al. reviewed case reports of GBS after the flu vaccine administration
and found, on average, an onset between two and three weeks. Pet. Ex. 26g at 2.

        Regarding CIDP, “if GBS persists for more than eight weeks, then consideration should
be considered to giving it a second diagnosis, CIDP.” Tr. 84. Initially, within 13 or 14 days
after the vaccine, Petitioner’s correct diagnosis was GBS. Tr. 85. Then after eight weeks, the
disease became chronic, and her second diagnosis became CIDP. Id.

               3.     Respondent’s Expert, Dr. Vinay Chaudhry

                      a.      Background and Qualifications

        Dr. Chaudhry is board certified in neurology, neuromuscular diseases, electrodiagnostic
medicine, and clinical neurophysiology. Resp. Ex. A at 1. He received his M.B. and B.S. in
India, and then completed an internship, residency in neurology, and fellowship in
neuromuscular diseases. Resp. Ex. I at 1-2. He was a Professor of Neurology at the Johns
Hopkins University School of Medicine and the Co-Director of the EMG Laboratory at Johns
Hopkins Hospital. Resp. Ex. A at 1. Currently, Dr. Chaudhry is the chief of the Neuromuscular
Division at the University of North Carolina. Tr. 142-43. Dr. Chaudhry specializes in the field
of neuromuscular diseases. Resp. Ex. A at 1. He has an active clinical practice where he sees
over 2,000 patients per year. Id.; Resp. Ex. I at 50. He has authored or co-authored over 200
publications. Resp. Ex. I at 4-22. A majority, at least 50%, of Dr. Chaudhry’s practice is
peripheral nerve related, which includes GBS and CIDP. Tr. 141.

                      b.      Opinion

                              i.      Diagnosis

        Dr. Chaudhry disagreed that Petitioner had GBS. Resp. Ex. A at 8. Instead, he believed
Petitioner’s symptoms and treatment were consistent with the sole diagnosis of CIDP. Id. at 6;
Tr. 154. Particularly, he believed Petitioner suffered from CIDP that had an acute onset. Resp.
Ex. A at 8. He opined that “[c]alling GBS and CIDP the same diseases is ignoring the plethora
of book chapters, reviews, manuscripts, diagnostic criteria written for these two diseases . . . .
Clearly GBS and CIDP are two different diseases with different time courses, different
response[s] to treatment, different prognosis, and different pathogenesis.” Resp. Ex. E at 1.
“CIDP is commonly considered to be a chronic form of GBS or the peripheral nervous system

66
  Lawrence B. Schonberger et al., Guillain Barré Syndrome Following Vaccination in the
National Influenza Immunization Program, United States, 1976-1977, 110 Am J. Epidemiology
105 (1979).

                                                26
equivalent of [MS]. However, those conceptions may be overly simplistic.” Resp. Ex. A, Tab
10 at 8.

         Dr. Chaudhry stated that once Dr. Sommerville diagnosed Petitioner with CIDP, he did
not keep the GBS diagnosis. Tr. 158. Dr. Sommerville also noted his puzzlement that Petitioner
continued to get worse, which did not make sense given her diagnosis of GBS. Tr. 157. Once
Petitioner’s diagnosis changed to CIDP, Dr. Chaudhry declared that her diagnosis of GBS was
no longer a consideration. Tr. 158. He believed that Petitioner’s CIDP began acutely, which
initially can be confused with GBS. Id.

        Dr. Chaudhry cited an article by Willison et al.,67 which discussed the etiology of GBS,
as well as acute onset chronic inflammatory demyelinating neuropathy. Resp. Ex. A, Tab 7 at 8.
Under diagnostic criteria for GBS, the authors listed “[f]eatures that should raise doubt about the
diagnosis of [GBS].” Id. at 5. The list included “[s]low progression of weakness and without
respiratory involvement (consider subacute inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy or acute
onset [CIDP]).” Id. The authors continued that in patients with progression of symptoms
exceeding four weeks, “the question often arises as to whether the diagnosis is still consistent
with [GBS], or the patient has [CIDP] with acute onset.” Id. at 8.

        Vallat et al. stated that CIDP “develops over more than 8 weeks, distinguishing the
condition from [GBS], which has an acute onset.” Resp. Ex. A, Tab 1 at 1. “CIDP is regarded
as an autoimmune disease involving cellular and humoral immunity. However, by contrast with
GBS, a single triggering antigen has not yet been found, except in rare cases of CIDP associated
with melanoma.” Id. CIDP is more frequent in patients with diabetes mellitus than it is in the
general population. Id. at 2-3. “In some cases, CIDP can start acutely with a GBS-like
presentation. Distinguishing true GBS from acutely starting CIDP is challenging and has major
therapeutic implications.” Id. at 3.

        Sejvar et al. listed the Brighton Criteria to define GBS and stated, “[t]hese criteria have
been included in an attempt to discern GBS from [CIDP], which is thought to be clinically and
pathologically distinct from GBS.” Resp. Ex. E, Tab 3 at 4. The Brighton GBS Working Group
who developed the criteria acknowledged that some patients with GBS “will have one or more
episodes of worsening after initial improvement and that such cases may appear to overlap with
CIDP. However, initial episodes of worsening in the setting of treatment of GBS may be
fluctuations rather than separate episodes of recurrence of symptoms.” Id.

        The Sejvar et al. authors characterized GBS in patients with “progressive limb weakness,
most often beginning in the legs and progressing to the arms and bulbar muscles. The weakness
is associated with decreased or absent deep tendon reflexes, and tends to be relatively
symmetric.” Resp. Ex. E, Tab 3 at 2. “Paresthesias and subjective numbness or tingling may be
an early feature and tends to affect the distal extremities. The weakness progresses in an acute to
subacute fashion, reaching its clinical nadir of weakness within 2-4 weeks.” Id.

67
     Hugh J. Willison et al., Guillain-Barré Syndrome, 388 Lancet 717 (2016).

                                                 27
         The European Federation of Neurological Societies (“EFNS”) Task Force68 also provided
criteria to define CIDP. Resp. Ex. E, Tab 4 at 1. The Task Force recommended that “CIDP
should be considered in any patient with a progressive symmetrical or asymmetrical
polyradiculoneuropathy in whom the clinical course is relapsing and remitting or progresses for
more than 2 months.” Id. at 3.

        Similarly, Ruts et al.69 conducted a study to provide criteria to distinguish between GBS
and CIDP. Resp. Ex. A, Tab 4 at 1. The authors found that the “diagnosis of [acute]-CIDP
should be considered when a patient thought to have GBS deteriorates again beyond 8 weeks
from onset or when deterioration occurs 3 times or more. Patients with [acute]-CIDP generally
are less severely disabled compared to patients with GBS.” Id. at 6.

        Regarding Dr. Steinman’s reliance on the NINDS and Johns Hopkins fact sheets for GBS
and CIDP, Dr. Chaudhry stated the authors are distinguishing between GBS and CIDP when they
state “that CIDP is related to the more commonly known disease GBS.” Tr. 202 (citing Pet. Ex.
28a at 2). Dr. Chaudhry stated he did not “know what the term ‘related’ means” but thought it
was written for “layman purposes.” Tr. 203.

                              ii.     Causation: Althen Prong One

        Dr. Chaudhry opined the Prevnar 13 vaccine is not thought to cause GBS or CIDP for
several reasons. Resp. Ex. A at 7; Tr. 154.

        First, Dr. Chaudhry stated there is a lack of an association between the Prevnar 13
vaccine and GBS. Resp. Ex. A at 7. Regarding epidemiological studies, Dr. Chaudhry cited
Baxter et al., who evaluated the relationship between GBS and vaccinations, including the 23-
valent pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine. Resp. Ex. A, Tab 6 at 1, 4. The authors reviewed
records of 415 hospitalized patients diagnosed with GBS from 1995 to 2006. Id. at 1. Of these,
25 had received a vaccine within a six-week period prior to onset of their GBS. Id. at 4. The
vaccines included flu (18 patients), 23-valent pneumococcal polysaccharide (2 patients),70
tetanus-diphtheria combination (3 patients), and hepatitis A and B (3 patients). Id. “[U]sing a
case-centered method to control for seasonality and other time-varying confounders, [they] found

68
  P.Y.K. Van den Bergh et al., European Federation of Neurological Societies/Peripheral Nerve
Society Guideline on Management of Chronic Inflammatory Demyelinating
Polyradiculoneuropathy: Report of a Joint Task Force of the European Federation of
Neurological Societies and the Peripheral Nerve Society — First Revision, 17 Eur. J. Neurology
356 (2010).
69
  L. Ruts et al., Distinguishing Acute-Onset CIDP from Fluctuating Guillain-Barré Syndrome: A
Prospective Study, 74 Neurology 1680 (2010).
70
  Petitioner did not receive this vaccine. However, as described by Respondent’s expert, Dr.
Whitton, the Prevnar 13 and 23-valent pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccines contain the same
13 bacterial polysaccharides. See Tr. 254.

                                                28
no evidence of an increased risk of GBS following any vaccination.” Id. at 5. The authors
acknowledged, however, that the study had “limited power to fully assess the risk of GBS
following vaccination due to the rarity of the outcome.” Id. at 7. And they concluded that the
results “provide reassurance that the risk of GBS following any vaccine . . . is extremely low.”
Id.

        Next, Dr. Chaudhry relied on the study by Haber et al., who studied vaccine adverse
event reports in adults related to the Prevnar 13 vaccine reported to VAERS from June 2012 to
December 2015. Pet. Ex. 17y at 1. During that time period, there were 2,976 total reports. Id.
Most of the reports related to injection site adverse events (injection site pain, redness, and
swelling). Id. at 3 tbl.1. There were 11 cases of GBS reported following the Prevnar 13
vaccination, and in ten of those, the Prevnar 13 vaccine was the only vaccine administered. Id. at
4. One patient also received a flu vaccine. Id. The authors concluded that their “data mining
analysis noted no disproportionate reporting for GBS.” Id. at 5.

       Another article cited by Dr. Chaudhry was authored by Doneddu et al.,71 who noted that
the cause of CIDP is still unknown. Resp. Ex. H, Tab 1 at 1-2. The authors studied 411 patients
with CIDP and reported 8% of them had flu-like syndrome within 1-42 days before the onset of
CIDP symptoms, 2% had an upper respiratory tract infection, 2% had gastrointestinal infection,
and 1.5% had a vaccination (all of them had the flu vaccine). Id. at 3; Tr. 164. This study
concluded “that antecedent events are unlikely to play a role in the risk of CIDP.” Resp. Ex. H,
Tab 1 at 6.

        Thus, unlike GBS, Dr. Chaudhry opined that “antecedent infections or trauma rarely
precipitate[] CIDP, reducing the likelihood that molecular mimicry serves as a trigger to initiate
aberrant tissue-specific pathogenic immune responses.” Resp. Ex. A at 8 (citing Resp. Ex. A,
Tab 10 at 12). Dr. Chaudhry relied on two articles to support this opinion. First, Ubogu noted
the “immunopathogenesis of CIDP has yet to be elucidated.” Resp. Ex. A, Tab 10 at 12. But
Ubogu observed that CIDP could occur due to an autoimmune disorder: “The co-existence of
CIDP or a CIDP-like disorder” with other systemic autoimmune disorders and the response “to
immune modulatory treatments provides indirect evidence that CIDP occurs in the setting of a
dysregulated immune system.” Id.

        The second article cited by Dr. Chaudhry on this point was by Dalakas.72 However,
Dalakas noted that “CIDP is viewed as the chronic counterpart of GBS because it shares with
GBS certain clinical, electrophysiologic, histologic, laboratory[,] and autoimmune features. It
differs from GBS predominantly by its tempo, mode of evolution, prognosis, and responsiveness
to steroids or immunosuppressants.” Resp. Ex. A, Tab 11 at 2. “In contrast to GBS however,

71
  P.E. Donnedu et al., Risk Factors for Chronic Inflammatory Demyelinating
Polyradiculoneuropathy (CIDP): Antecedent Events, Lifestyle and Dietary Habits. Data from
the Italian CIDP Database, 27 Eur. J. Neurology 136 (2020).
72
  Marinos C. Dalakas, Pathogenesis of Immune-Mediated Neuropathies, 1852 Biochimica et
Biophysica Acta 658 (2015).

                                                29
where ganglioside antibodies play a causative role in the axonal and ataxic variants . . . , no
specific antibody has yet been identified as the causative factor in CIDP.” Id. at 5. The author
concluded, “[o]verall, the immunopathogenetic scheme . . . summarizing the proposed role of T
cells, cytokines, B cells[,] and autoantibodies for GBS[] is also relevant in CIDP.” Id.

        Dr. Chaudhry further cited Mathey et al.,73 who stated that the “abiding theory of CIDP
pathogenesis is that cell-mediated and humoral74 mechanisms act synergistically to cause
damage to peripheral nerves.” Resp. Ex. A, Tab 12 at 3. “Although some patients have reported
antecedent infections prior to onset of neurological symptoms neither the target(s) nor the trigger
for the autoimmune response has been identified and no infectious agent has been consistently
linked with initiation of disease.” Id. “However, the autoimmune aetiology is supported by the
efficacy of treatments that target the immune system, . . . and by evidence of an inflammatory
response in the blood and peripheral nerves.” Id.

        Finally, while the package insert for the flu vaccine reports increased incidence of GBS
occurring within six weeks of vaccination, Dr. Chaudhry noted that the Prevnar 13 package
insert does not give any similar warning or post marketing concerns. Resp. Ex. A at 7-8 (citing
Resp Ex. A, Tab 8 (flu package insert); Pet. Ex. 25e (Prevnar 13 package insert)).

       Dr. Chaudhry does not dispute that molecular mimicry is a recognized mechanism for
how some infectious agents, such as C. jejuni, Epstein-Barr virus, flu A virus, Mycoplasma
pneumoniae, and Hemophilus influenza, can cause GBS. Resp. Ex. A at 7 (citing Resp. Ex. A,
Tab 7 at 1). In fact, two-thirds of patients with GBS have an antecedent infection. Tr. 162. The
concept of molecular mimicry proffered by Dr. Stein and Dr. Steinman invoked an infectious
agent such as C. jejuni, which shares an antigenic similarity to a self-antigen such as ganglioside
epitopes on peripheral nerves. Resp. Ex. E at 3. “An immune reaction against that particular
antigen on specific strains of C[.] jejuni is also an immune reaction against GM1 gangliosides
antigens on the peripheral nerve. This antibody against GM1 ganglioside on the axons of the
peripheral nerve leads to [a] form of GBS after C. jejuni infection.” Id.

       However, Dr. Chaudhry opined that “[t]his concept cannot be extended to all infections
or vaccines (only defined for C. jejuni), or all vaccinations (none known to produce molecular
mimicry) produce all forms of immune neuropathies.” Resp. Ex. E at 4. Particularly, the “[S.]
pneumonia[e] infection is not one of the infectious agents reported to precede GBS and hence
pneumococcal vaccines against the bacteria [S.] pneumoniae is unlikely to cause GBS.” Resp.
Ex. A at 7; see also Tr. 173-74.

73
  Emily K. Mathey et al., Chronic Inflammatory Demyelinating Polyradiculoneuropathy: From
Pathology to Phenotype, 86 J. Neurology Neurosurgery Psychiatry 973 (2015).
74
  Humoral is “pertaining to elements dissolved in the blood or body fluids, e.g., humoral
immunity from antibodies in the blood as opposed to cellular immunity.” Humoral, Dorland’s
Med. Dictionary Online, https://www.dorlandsonline.com/dorland/definition?id=23202 (last
visited Aug. 3, 2022).

                                                30
         The Yuki article identified four criteria that “must be satisfied to conclude that a disease
is triggered by molecular mimicry.” Resp. Ex. E at 4 (quoting Pet. Ex. 17a at 1). The four
criteria are (1) “establishment of an epidemiological association between the infectious agent and
the immune-mediated disease;” (2) “identification of T cells or antibodies directed against the
patient’s target antigens;” (3) “identification of microbial mimics of the target antigen;” and (4)
“reproduction of the disease in an animal model.” Pet. Ex. 17a at 1. According to Dr. Chaudhry,
while these criteria have been met for C. jejuni, they have not been met for S. pneumoniae.
Resp. Ex. E at 4.

        Therefore, according to Dr. Chaudhry, “just because molecular mimicry can be induced
by the carbohydrate antigen in one form of GBS does not mean that Prevnar 13 vaccine received
by [Petitioner] will have molecular mimicry hypothesis and to a different disease CIDP.” Resp.
Ex. E at 4.

      Next, Dr. Chaudhry opined that neither of Dr. Steinman’s two proposed molecular
mimics, phosphoglycerol or CRM197 protein conjugates, are supported by evidence. Resp. Ex. E
at 4.

        About Dr. Steinman’s first molecular mimicry theory, based on phosphoglycerol
components of the Prevnar 13 vaccine, Dr. Chaudhry raised several objections. First, Dr.
Chaudhry disagreed that literature cited by Dr. Steinman supports the theory. Resp. Ex. E at 4.
Dr. Steinman cited Nakos et al. as support for the proposition that anti-phospholipids have been
found in patients with GBS. Id. (citing Pet. Ex. 25h). Dr. Chaudhry took issue with Dr.
Steinman’s interpretation, citing Nakos et al. where the authors stated “[i]t is not well understood
whether these anti-phospholipid antibodies play a role in the pathogenesis of the polyneuropathy
or represent a part of a more extensive immunoreaction that takes place in [] GBS.” Pet. Ex. 25h
at 6.

       Dr. Chaudhry also questioned whether the Gilburd et al. article supports an association
between anti-phospholipid antibodies (antibodies to phosphatidyl-ethanolamine, phosphatidyl-
choline, or phosphatidylserine) and GBS. Resp. Ex. E at 4. He quoted Gilburd et al., who stated
“no significant association was found between the presence of specific anti[-]phospholipid
antibodies . . . and GBS when compared to controls.” Id. (quoting Pet. Ex. 25g at 5).

       Dr. Steinman cited the Ho et al. article to support the notion that antibodies targeting the
phosphoglycerol component of myelin are pathogenic. See Pet. Ex. 23; Pet. Ex. 25j. However,
the Ho et al. article was designed “to determine whether lipids in the myelin sheath are targeted
by autoimmune responses in MS.” Resp. Ex. E at 4 (citing Pet. Ex. 25j at 9). Therefore, Dr.
Chaudhry opined Ho et al. had no bearing on CIDP diagnosis. Id.

       Regarding the CRM197 protein conjugate and Prevnar 13, Dr. Chaudhry stated there is
“no evidence to support that [C]ontactin-1 plays any part in GBS.” Resp. Ex. E at 5. Dr.
Chaudhry testified “we don’t know” as to the state of knowledge for whether the Contactin-1

                                                 31
antibody has any relevance to the causation of CIDP. Tr. 186. Citing Lehmann et al.,75 Dr.
Chaudhry stated, “[a]nti-[Contactin-1] antibody-positive patients are clinically distinct with
predominant involvement of motor fibers and axonal damage, a pattern not seen with [Petitioner]
who was never documented to have [C]ontactin-1 antibodies.”76 Resp. Ex. E at 5 (citing Resp.
Ex. E, Tab 6 at 3). Lehmann et al. noted anti-Contactin-1 antibodies are found in 2.2%-8.7% of
patients with CIDP. Resp. Ex. E, Tab 6 at 3. Anti-Contactin-1 antibody-positive patients
“tended to respond poorly to IVIG.” Id. In comparison, Dr. Chaudhry noted Petitioner “was
never documented to have [C]ontactin-1 antibodies” and responded to IVIG. Resp. Ex. E at 5.

        In response to Dr. Steinman’s BLAST search for linear amino acid sequence homology,
Dr. Chaudhry opined that “similar conformational structure between an exogenous agent and a
self-antigen alone [is] not sufficient to prove that molecular mimicry is the pathogenic
mechanism for a disease. Many such homologies exist, and the vast majority of these are not
associated with biologically relevant autoimmune phenomena or actual human disease.” Resp.
Ex. E at 5 (citing Resp. Ex. A, Tab 15 at 10).77

        Based on evidence from large epidemiological studies and mass immunization campaigns
in different countries, Dr. Chaudhry stated there is “no correlation between alum-containing
vaccines and GBS.” Resp. Ex. E at 5 (citing Pet. Ex. 17w at 3-4). Alum adjuvants are present in
almost all vaccines licensed in the United States and have been used safely in vaccines for
decades. Id.

                                iii.    Causation: Althen Prong Two

        Dr. Chaudhry disagreed with Drs. Stein’s and Steinman’s assertion that molecular
mimicry caused Petitioner’s CIDP after Prevnar 13 administration. Resp. Ex. A at 10. He
asserted that only certain subtypes of “GBS have been conclusively linked to a molecular
mimicry hypothesis.” Id.

        He opined that while Petitioner did not have a gastrointestinal or respiratory illness prior
to her symptoms of CIDP, Dr. Chaudhry thought it unlikely that the vaccine triggered her illness.
Resp. Ex. A at 11. Dr. Chaudhry opined that antecedent infections rarely precede the onset of
CIDP. Id. (citing Resp. Ex. A, Tab 10 at 12). Additionally, even in individuals with GBS,
approximately one-third of those with GBS have no history of gastrointestinal or respiratory
infection. Id. (citing Resp. Ex. A, Tab 7 at 2). Moreover, while two-thirds of GBS cases are

75
  Helmar Christoph Lehmann et al., Chronic Inflammatory Demyelinating Polyneuropathy:
Update on Diagnosis, Immunopathogenesis and Treatment, 90 J. Neurology Neurosurgery
Psychiatry 981 (2019).
76
     Diagnostic testing for anti-Contactin-1 antibodies was not done on Petitioner.
77
 Inst. of Med., Evaluating Biological Mechanisms of Adverse Events, in Adverse Effects of
Vaccines: Evidence and Causality 57 (Kathleen Stratton et al. eds., 2012).

                                                  32
associated with prior acute infection, S. pneumoniae is not recognized as a known pathogen
associated with onset. Id. (citing Resp. Ex. A, Tab 7 at 1).

        Dr. Chaudhry noted that underlying diabetes and possible nutritional deficiency such as a
deficiency of vitamin B12, related to Petitioner’s gastric bypass surgery, may have contributed to
the neuropathy as well. Resp. Ex. A at 7; Tr. 161.

        In all, Dr. Chaudhry stated Petitioner “suffered from CIDP, a disease that is different
clinically, pathogenically[,] and in response to treatment from GBS. There is no evidence to
support that the Prevnar 13 vaccine caused her CIDP.” Resp. Ex. E at 5.

                              iv.     Causation: Althen Prong Three

        Dr. Chaudhry did not offer an opinion as to whether there was a proximate temporal
association between Petitioner’s Prevnar 13 vaccination and her illness, or otherwise refute
Petitioner’s assertion that there was an appropriate temporal association.

               4.      Respondent’s Expert, Dr. Noel R. Rose78

                       a.     Background and Qualifications

        Dr. Rose received his B.S. from Yale University and his M.A. and Ph.D. in Medical
Microbiology from the University of Pennsylvania. Resp. Ex. D at 1. Dr. Rose received his
M.D. from State University of New York. Id. Dr. Rose was Professor Emeritus in four
departments at Johns Hopkins University, including the departments of Pathology and Medicine
in the School of Medicine, and The Feinstone Department of Molecular Microbiology and
Immunology and Environmental Health Sciences in the Bloomberg School of Public Health.
Resp. Ex. C at 1. He was the founding director of the Johns Hopkins Center for Autoimmune
Disease Research, former Director of the Division of Immunology in the Department of
Pathology at the School of Medicine, and former Chairman of the Department of Immunology
and Infectious Diseases, School of Public Health. Id. He authored or co-authored over 800
publications related to immune-mediated diseases. Id.; Resp. Ex. D at 7-44.

                       b.     Opinion

                              i.      Diagnosis

        Dr. Rose opined Petitioner’s “precise diagnosis [i]s uncertain.” Resp. Ex. C at 3. Most
of Petitioner’s treating physicians believed she “had some form of inflammatory demyelinating
polyneuropathy.” Id. Dr. Rose declined to opine further about Petitioner’s diagnosis and instead
focused on the issue of causation.

78
  Dr. Rose filed one expert report. Resp. Ex. C. Dr. Rose did not testify during the hearing in
2021 as he sadly passed away in 2020.

                                                33
                              ii.     Causation

        According to Dr. Rose, “[i]n the developed, industrialized countries, type 2 diabetes
mellitus is the most common cause of peripheral neuropathy and is growing in frequency,
probably related to increasing obesity and environmental toxic exposures.” Resp. Ex. C at 3
(citing Resp. Ex. C, Tab 1 at 13).79 Dr. Rose opined peripheral neuropathy has occurred
following surgery, including bariatric surgery as a method of weight control, as well as some
infectious diseases. Id. He agreed with Dr. Chaudhry that the most studied infectious agent is C.
jejuni, a common intestinal enteric pathogen. Id.

        With respect to post-infectious GBS, Dr. Rose explained that “[t]he relationship between
C. jejuni infection and GBS depends on the precise antigenic type (serotype) of the bacterium.
Serotypes are determined by ganglioside-like moieties expressed on the bacterial cell surface.
Extensive studies of bacterial gangliosides suggest that they have structural similarity to
gangliosides present on peripheral nerve cells.” Resp. Ex. C at 3-4. Molecular mimicry occurs
when the antibody induced by the bacterial infection acts on the peripheral nerve cells of the
host. Id. at 4. However, he opined that molecular mimicry for S. pneumoniae has not been
described as associated with GBS. Id.

       Dr. Rose cited the same four criteria as Dr. Chaudhry, for establishing mimicry as the
cause of a human disease. Resp. Ex. C at 7 (Resp. Ex. C, Tab 21 at 2-4).80 They include (1)
evidence of an epidemiologic association between the putative pathogen and the disease; (2)
demonstration of immune cells or antibodies directed against an antigen concerned with the
disease; (3) cross reactivity of immune cells or antibodies of the host with the pathogen and (4)
reproduction by the antigen of the disease process in vivo or in vitro. Resp. Ex. C, Tab 21 at 2-4.
Dr. Rose opined that “[w]hile the criteria have been largely fulfilled in a few human diseases
including the AMSAN form of GBS, they do not at our present state of knowledge apply to other
forms of acute or chronic peripheral neuropathy.” Resp. Ex. C at 7.

        Like GBS, Dr. Rose opined that CIDP is frequently attributed to a preceding viral
infection, but he opined that there is no convincing evidence of vaccination being a trigger.
Resp. Ex. C at 4 (citing Resp. Ex. C, Tab 5 at 14-15).81 He cited Lunn et al., who noted “[a]
preceding illness, infection, or vaccination has been identified in patients with CIDP in 32% in
the 6 months and 16% in the 6 weeks preceding their illness. Others have found no convincing
evidence of vaccination being a trigger.” Resp. Ex. C, Tab 5 at 14-15.

79
  Istvan Katona & Joachim Weis, Diseases of the Peripheral Nerves, in 145 Handbook of
Clinical Neurology 454-74 (G.G. Kovacs & I. Alafuzoff eds., 2018).
80
  C. Wim Ang et al., The Guillain-Barré Syndrome: A True Case of Molecular Mimicry, 25
Trends Immunology 61 (2004).
81
  Michael P.T. Lunn et al., Peripheral Neuropathies, in The Autoimmune Diseases 757 (N. Rose
& I. Mackay eds., 5th. ed. 2014).

                                                34
        There are three components of Prevnar 13: polysaccharides, alum adjuvant, and modified
diphtheria toxin. Resp. Ex. C at 5. The pneumococcal polysaccharides can induce antibodies to
the corresponding pneumococcal serotype and to some extent other, antigenically related,
serotypes. Id. (citing Resp. Ex. C, Tab 7 at 2).82 However, Dr. Rose opined that the “cross-
reactive antibodies are not known to cause any damage in humans.” Id.

        Regarding alum, Dr. Rose stated aluminum adjuvants are used widely in vaccines and
“[o]ther than rare local inflammatory reactions of some individuals at the site of injection, they
have not been associated with any adverse effects of the vaccine.” Resp. Ex. C at 5 (citing Resp.
Ex. C, Tab 8 at 2).83

          “The third component of the polysaccharide vaccine is diphtheria toxin in the form of a
modified, non-toxic protein (toxoid) . . . . the material used as the protein carrier in the
pneumococcal conjugate vaccine is a recombinant mutant (CRM197) of the diphtheria toxin
produced in [E.] coli.” Resp. Ex. C at 6 (citing Resp. Ex. C, Tab 10 at 1).84 Dr. Rose opined
“[i]t is the same material given to virtually all infants and children in the United States and
repeated periodically in many adults. Except for local pain and low fever in a few individuals, it
has virtually no adverse side effects.” Id.

       Citing Haber et al., who reviewed VAERS reports, Dr. Rose stated that “GBS was
reported only in subjects equal to or later than 65 years of age and its prevalence in these older
individuals did not exceed that expected in the population generally.” Resp. Ex. C at 6 (citing
Pet. Ex. 17y). Overall, Dr. Rose stated “[t]here have been no reports of a statistical association
of pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccines with GBS or CIDP.” Id.

               5.      Respondent’s Expert, Dr. Lindsay Whitton

                       a.     Background and Qualifications

       Dr. Whitton received his B.Sc. in molecular biology, his M.B., Ch.B. in medicine, and his
Ph.D. in herpesvirus transcription from the University of Glasgow in Scotland. Resp. Ex. G at 1.
He also completed internships in medicine and surgery, and held various professor positions
since 1986. Resp. Ex. F at 1; Resp. Ex. G at 1. He currently works as a Professor in the
Department of Immunology and Microbial Science at Scripps Research Institute in California.
Resp. Ex. G at 1. Dr. Whitton is a member of various professional societies and editorial boards

82
 M.J.M. Bonten et al., Polysaccharide Conjugate Vaccine Against Pneumococcal Pneumonia in
Adults, 372 New Eng. J. Med. 1114 (2015).
83
 Peng He et al., Advances in Aluminum Hydroxide-Based Adjuvant Research and Its
Mechanism, 11 Hum. Vaccines Immunotherapeutics 477 (2015).
84
  Philippe Goffin et al., High-Yield Production of Recombinant CRM197, a Non-Toxic Mutant
of Diphtheria Toxin, in the Periplasm of Escherichia Coli, 12 Biotechnology J. 1700168 (2017).

                                                35
and has authored or co-authored almost 200 publications. Id. at 1-15. Dr. Whitton does not
provide patient care, or diagnose or treat patients with GBS or CIDP.

                      b.      Opinion

        Dr. Whitton did not offer an opinion as to Petitioner’s diagnosis or take a position on
whether the diagnosis of GBS was appropriate. Resp. Ex. F at 2; Tr. 235. Instead, he focused on
the issue of causation: whether the Prevnar 13 vaccine can cause GBS/CIDP.85 See Resp. Exs. F,
J. Dr. Whitton opined that “Prevnar 13 has an excellent safety record, and [he] [was] not aware
of any evidence that associates it with GBS.” Resp. Ex. F at 29. He did not “believe the vaccine
played any role” in Petitioner’s illness. Tr. 234.

        Dr. Whitton raised a litany of objections about Drs. Stein’s and Steinman’s opinions.
First, Dr. Whitton opined that S. pneumoniae is not generally thought capable of triggering GBS.
Resp. Ex. F at 9; Tr. 238-39. He testified the C. jejuni bacteria appears to evoke molecular
mimicry between specific molecules on the bacteria outer wall and the body’s gangliosides. Tr.
238. He asserted, however, that S. pneumoniae is completely different. Id. Dr. Whitton
believed that it was inaccurate for Drs. Stein and Steinman to conclude that the bacterial
polysaccharides in Prevnar 13 cause GBS via molecular mimicry. Resp. Ex. F at 9. Drs. Stein
and Steinman asserted that “structures are shared between bacterial polysaccharides, and
hypothetical targets that are present on host nerve cells; Dr. Stein propose[d] that gangliosides
are the targets, while Dr. Steinman disagree[d], and suggests[ed] that the imaginary immune
response attacks polar head groups on phospholipid molecules.” Id. at 11. However, Dr.
Whitton stated that medical literature, such as Haber et al., concludes, “from a review of the
VAERS database, that there is no increased signal of GBS following Prevnar-13 vaccination.”
Tr. 250.

        For molecular mimicry to occur, Dr. Whitton stated that at least three things must
happen: (1) the vaccine must trigger a host immune response; (2) the “immune response to the
bacterial polysaccharide, or to a few amino acids in the CRM197 carrier protein, must inevitably
be able to recognize (cross-react with) the ‘shared’ host material;” and (3) the cross-reactive
immune response must be harmful. Resp. Ex. F at 12. Dr. Whitton opined that Petitioner’s
theory is speculative because “in reality, we do not know if the vaccine actually induced the
autoimmune response.” Id. at 13.

        Dr. Whitton cited the Institute of Medicine (now the National Academy of Sciences) and
stated that “[w]hile molecular mimicry is a well-established mechanism in selected animal
models, its relevance to human autoimmune disease remains in most cases to be convincingly

85
   Dr. Whitton’s criticisms of Dr. Steinman’s expert reports are far ranging. For the sake of
brevity and clarity, the undersigned discusses the material points and omits discussion of less
relevant information.

                                                36
proven.” Resp. Ex. F at 13 (citing Resp. Ex. F, Tab 22 at 15).86 Dr. Whitton does not agree that
molecular mimicry is “a common cause of human diseases.” Tr. 261.

        Dr. Whitton cited Baxter et al., which reviewed the Pneumovax-23 vaccine in relation to
the risk of developing GBS. Tr. 254. Dr. Whitton testified the Pneumovax-23 vaccine contains
the bacterial polysaccharides from 23 different strains of S. pneumoniae, which includes the
same 13 bacterial polysaccharides contained in the Prevnar 13 vaccine. Id. Unlike Prevnar 13,
Dr. Whitton stated that the Pneumovax-23 does not contain CRM197 or alum. Id. Thus, Dr.
Whitton contended the Baxter et al. study was able to show whether the polysaccharides trigger
GBS. Id. According to Dr. Whitton, the authors concluded that “the bacterial polysaccharides
really don’t trigger GBS . . . the bacteria themselves don’t trigger GBS.” Tr. 254-55.

        However, Dr. Whitton’s characterization of the Baxter et al. article is somewhat
misleading. The authors did not specifically conclude that bacterial polysaccharides do not
trigger GBS; instead, they found “no evidence of an increased risk of GBS following any
vaccination.” Resp. Ex. A, Tab 6 at 5. Further, of the 415 patients with GBS who were studied,
25 received a vaccine in the six weeks prior to onset of illness and two of the patients received
the Pneumovax-23 vaccine. Id. at 4. Of the two patients who had post-vaccination GBS, onset
was at 14 and 18 days. Id. at 5. Additionally, the authors noted the limitations of the study, and
specifically stated that they were “unable to exclude any possible association between vaccines
and GBS.” Id. at 7.

       Also according to Dr. Whitton, the Baxter et al. study provided evidence of whether
CRM197 triggers GBS by molecular mimicry. Tr. 255-56. CRM197 is “very similar to diphtheria
toxin and different by only one amino acid.” Tr. 255. Dr. Whitton opined that if CRM197 was
suspected to trigger GBS by molecular mimicry, then diphtheria vaccines would therefore be
expected to trigger GBS by the same mechanism. Tr. 256. Dr. Whitton stated the two diphtheria
vaccines studied in Baxter et al. did not show an association with GBS. Id. (citing Resp. Ex. F,
Tab 20 at 6 tbl.2). A review of the Baxter et al. study shows that four of the 25 patients in the
post-vaccination group received diphtheria-containing vaccines. Resp. Ex. F, Tab 20 at 5 tbl.1.

        Next, Dr. Whitton believed that it was inaccurate for Dr. Steinman to conclude that anti-
phospholipid antibodies play a role in disease causation. Resp. Ex. F at 16-17. While Dr.
Whitton agreed that that these antibodies “may be the cause of disease,” he opined that they may
also be “the result of the disease” or “irrelevant to the disease.” Id. at 16. Dr. Whitton quoted
Gilburd et al., who stated “these autoantibodies are probably produced as a result of the myelin
damage rather than cause the demyelination.” Id. at 16-17 (quoting Pet. Ex. 25g at 1). He also
cited Nakos et al., who stated that “[i]t is not well understood whether these anti-phospholipid
antibodies play a role in the pathogenesis of the polyneuropathy or represent a part of a more
extensive immunoreaction that takes place in [] GBS.” Id. (citing Pet. Ex. 25h at 6).

86
  Institute of Medicine, Evaluating Biological Mechanisms of Adverse Events, in Adverse
Effects of Vaccines: Evidence and Causality 57 (2012).

                                                37
         Dr. Whitton also believed that Dr. Steinman’s reliance on Kanter et al.,87 Ho et al., and
Wang et al.,88 was misplaced because these studies focus on MS, not GBS. Resp. Ex. F at 17
(citing Pet. Exs. 25i, 25j, 25k). “MS is a disease of the central nervous system, while GBS is
generally viewed as a disorder of the peripheral nervous system.” Id. Kanter et al. explained
that “[l]ipids are important targets of immune responses in a variety of microbial and
autoimmune diseases. Autoimmune responses directed against phospholipids and gangliosides
contribute to the pathogenesis in systemic lupus erythematosus and [GBS], respectively.” Id.
(citing Pet. Ex. 25i at 1). Dr. Whitton opined that Kanter et al. underscored that “different
autoimmune disorders can have different targets for autoimmune attack; therefore, it is not
appropriate to use MS as a model for GBS.” Id.

        Dr. Whitton then discussed Dr. Steinman’s argument that the polar head groups, present
in Prevnar 13, induce molecular mimicry, which targets polar head groups on phospholipids in
host nerves, causing GBS. Resp. Ex. F at 17. Instead of phospholipids, Dr. Whitton opined “it is
currently thought that the targets of autoimmune attack in GBS are gangliosides.” Id. Dr.
Whitton believed Dr. Steinman’s argument was incorrect because a phospholipid with a polar
head group and a ganglioside are structurally different from one another, and gangliosides
generally do not contain polar head groups. Id. Therefore, “even if Prevnar 13 induced
antibodies that reacted with isolated polar head groups, those antibodies would not cross-react
with gangliosides and, therefore, would not trigger GBS.” Id.

        As for Dr. Steinman’s discussion on glycerol phosphate and reference to Chang et al.,
which illustrates the “phosphate head group,” Dr. Whitton had several observations. Resp. Ex. F
at 19-20. Dr. Whitton suggested that the more likely explanation for the importance of the
phosphate group in the vaccine is “related to its role in defining the overall shape of the
polysaccharide,” which is “distinguishable by the immune system.” Id. at 19. He also asserted
that the phosphate groups in the vaccine are “very small molecular structures that are ubiquitous
in biological materials.” Id. “[W]hile there is no doubt that antibodies can be (and are) directed
against large molecules that contain a few phosphate groups,” Dr. Whitton “suspect[ed]” that an
“antibody response [] focused solely on this small, and ubiquitous, molecule would . . . have
extremely widespread effects on the host.” Id. at 20 (emphasis omitted). Lastly, Dr. Whitton
observed that if Dr. Steinman is right, then “the glycerophosphate group of one strain [of S.
pneumoniae] would induce an antibody response that would recognize the glycerophosphate
group in a different strain,” but, he asserted that there is no such antibody cross reactivity. Id.

        In his second expert report, Dr. Whitton reiterated the issues addressed in his first report,
and raised additional objections to Dr. Steinman’s second expert report and its reliance on
phosphoglycerol. See Resp. Ex. J. Dr. Steinman showed a glycerophosphate group as part of
the recognition site of an antibody that recognizes the polysaccharide in the 23F strain of S.

87
  Jennifer L. Kanter et al., Lipid Microarrays Identify Key Mediators of Autoimmune Brain
Inflammation, 12 Nature Med. 138 (2006).
88
  Denong Wang et al., Uncovering Cryptic Glycan Markers in Multiple Sclerosis (MS) and
Experimental Autoimmune Encephalomyelitis (EAE), 75 Drug Dev. Rsch. 172 (2014).

                                                 38
pneumoniae. Pet. Ex. 27 at 12. However, Dr. Whitton stated, “it is clear that that antibody does
not bind only to the glycerophosphate group because, if it did, it would also bind to the same
phosphate group that is present in the polysaccharides of some other strains of S. pneumoniae.”
Resp. Ex. J at 6. Dr. Whiton concluded that “[a]ntibodies to S. pneumoniae are strain (serotype)
specific.” Id.

        Dr. Whitton also criticized Dr. Steinman’s citation of Root-Bernstein to support the use
of the BLAST tool. Resp. Ex. J at 7; Tr. 278. Dr. Whitton opined that Root-Bernstein made
errors concerning the use of the BLAST, which lead to “unjustifiable conclusions regarding
molecular mimicry.” Resp. Ex. J at 8-9.

        Additionally, Dr. Whitton testified that Dr. Steinman’s reliance on the case report El
Khatib et al. was misplaced. Tr. 270. El Khatib et al. documented a young boy with septic
shock, and according to Dr. Whitton, it would be “difficult . . . to diagnose GBS in such a
situation.” Id.

        Ultimately, when asked whether the Prevnar 13 vaccine can cause GBS via molecular
mimicry, Dr. Whitton stated, “I think it’s extraordinarily unlikely to be able to do so based on all
of the extant evidence.” Tr. 305.

         Regarding a temporal association between Petitioner’s Prevnar 13 vaccination and the
onset of her GBS, Dr. Whitton stated that “coincidental temporal associations are inevitable.”
Resp. Ex. F at 28. He stated that with the millions of Prevnar 13 vaccines administered annually,
“it follows that there will be multiple instances of purely coincidental temporal association
between the vaccine and subsequent (causally unrelated) GBS.” Id. (emphasis omitted).

III.   DISCUSSION

       A.      Standards for Adjudication

       The Vaccine Act was established to compensate vaccine-related injuries and deaths. §
10(a). “Congress designed the Vaccine Program to supplement the state law civil tort system as
a simple, fair and expeditious means for compensating vaccine-related injured persons. The
Program was established to award ‘vaccine-injured persons quickly, easily, and with certainty
and generosity.’” Rooks v. Sec’y of Health & Hum. Servs., 35 Fed. Cl. 1, 7 (1996) (quoting
H.R. Rep. No. 908 at 3, reprinted in 1986 U.S.C.C.A.N. at 6287, 6344).

        Petitioner’s burden of proof is by a preponderance of the evidence. § 13(a)(1). The
preponderance standard requires a petitioner to demonstrate that it is more likely than not that the
vaccine at issue caused the injury. Moberly v. Sec’y of Health & Hum. Servs., 592 F.3d 1315,
1322 n.2 (Fed. Cir. 2010). Proof of medical certainty is not required. Bunting v. Sec’y of Health
& Hum. Servs., 931 F.2d 867, 873 (Fed. Cir. 1991). Petitioner need not make a specific type of
evidentiary showing, i.e., “epidemiologic studies, rechallenge, the presence of pathological
markers or genetic predisposition, or general acceptance in the scientific or medical communities
to establish a logical sequence of cause and effect.” Capizzano v. Sec’y of Health & Hum.

                                                 39
Servs., 440 F.3d 1317, 1325 (Fed. Cir. 2006). Instead, Petitioner may satisfy her burden by
presenting circumstantial evidence and reliable medical opinions. Id. at 1325-26.

        In particular, a petitioner must prove that the vaccine was “not only [the] but-for cause of
the injury but also a substantial factor in bringing about the injury.” Moberly, 592 F.3d at 1321
(quoting Shyface v. Sec’y of Health & Hum. Servs., 165 F.3d 1344, 1352-53 (Fed. Cir. 1999));
see also Pafford v. Sec’y of Health & Hum. Servs., 451 F.3d 1352, 1355 (Fed. Cir. 2006). The
received vaccine, however, need not be the predominant cause of the injury. Shyface, 165 F.3d
at 1351. A petitioner who satisfies this burden is entitled to compensation unless Respondent
can prove, by a preponderance of the evidence, that the vaccinee’s injury is “due to factors
unrelated to the administration of the vaccine.” § 13(a)(1)(B). However, if a petitioner fails to
establish a prima facie case, the burden does not shift. Bradley v. Sec’y of Health & Hum.
Servs., 991 F.2d 1570, 1575 (Fed. Cir. 1993).

        “Regardless of whether the burden ever shifts to the [R]espondent, the special master
may consider the evidence presented by the [R]espondent in determining whether the [P]etitioner
has established a prima facie case.” Flores v. Sec’y of Health & Hum. Servs., 115 Fed. Cl. 157,
162-63 (2014); see also Stone v. Sec’y of Health & Hum. Servs., 676 F.3d 1373, 1379 (Fed. Cir.
2012) (“[E]vidence of other possible sources of injury can be relevant not only to the ‘factors
unrelated’ defense, but also to whether a prima facie showing has been made that the vaccine
was a substantial factor in causing the injury in question.”); de Bazan v. Sec’y of Health & Hum.
Servs., 539 F.3d 1347, 1353 (Fed. Cir. 2008) (“The government, like any defendant, is permitted
to offer evidence to demonstrate the inadequacy of the [P]etitioner’s evidence on a requisite
element of the [P]etitioner’s case-in-chief.”); Pafford, 451 F.3d at 1358-59 (“[T]he presence of
multiple potential causative agents makes it difficult to attribute ‘but for’ causation to the
vaccination. . . . [T]he Special Master properly introduced the presence of the other unrelated
contemporaneous events as just as likely to have been the triggering event as the vaccinations.”).

       B.      Factual Issues

         A petitioner must prove, by a preponderance of the evidence, the factual circumstances
surrounding her claim. § 13(a)(1)(A). To resolve factual issues, the special master must weigh
the evidence presented, which may include contemporaneous medical records and testimony.
See Burns v. Sec’y of Health & Hum. Servs., 3 F.3d 415, 417 (Fed. Cir. 1993) (explaining that a
special master must decide what weight to give evidence including oral testimony and
contemporaneous medical records). Contemporaneous medical records, “in general, warrant
consideration as trustworthy evidence.” Cucuras v. Sec’y of Health & Hum. Servs., 993 F.2d
1525, 1528 (Fed. Cir. 1993). But see Kirby v. Sec’y of Health & Hum. Servs., 997 F.3d 1378,
1382 (Fed. Cir. 2021) (rejecting the presumption that “medical records are accurate and complete
as to all the patient’s physical conditions”); Shapiro v. Sec’y of Health & Hum. Servs., 101 Fed.
Cl. 532, 538 (2011) (“[T]he absence of a reference to a condition or circumstance is much less
significant than a reference which negates the existence of the condition or circumstance.”
(quoting Murphy v. Sec’y of Health & Hum. Servs., 23 Cl. Ct. 726, 733 (1991), aff’d per curiam,
968 F.2d 1226 (Fed. Cir. 1992))), recons. den’d after remand, 105 Fed. Cl. 353 (2012), aff’d
mem., 503 F. App’x 952 (Fed. Cir. 2013).

                                                 40
        There are situations in which compelling testimony may be more persuasive than written
records, such as where records are deemed to be incomplete or inaccurate. Campbell v. Sec’y of
Health & Hum. Servs., 69 Fed. Cl. 775, 779 (2006) (“[L]ike any norm based upon common
sense and experience, this rule should not be treated as an absolute and must yield where the
factual predicates for its application are weak or lacking.”); Lowrie v. Sec’y of Health & Hum.
Servs., No. 03-1585V, 2005 WL 6117475, at *19 (Fed. Cl. Spec. Mstr. Dec. 12, 2005)
(“[W]ritten records which are, themselves, inconsistent, should be accorded less deference than
those which are internally consistent.” (quoting Murphy v. Sec’y of Health & Hum. Servs., 23
Cl. Ct. 726, 733 (1991), aff’d per curiam, 968 F.2d 1226 (Fed. Cir. 1992))). Ultimately, a
determination regarding a witness’s credibility is needed when determining the weight that such
testimony should be afforded. Andreu v. Sec’y of Health & Hum. Servs., 569 F.3d 1367, 1379
(Fed. Cir. 2009); Bradley, 991 F.2d at 1575.

        Despite the weight afforded to medical records, special masters are not bound rigidly by
those records in determining onset of a petitioner’s symptoms. Valenzuela v. Sec’y of Health &
Hum. Servs., No. 90-1002V, 1991 WL 182241, at *3 (Fed. Cl. Spec. Mstr. Aug. 30, 1991); see
also Eng v. Sec’y of Health & Hum. Servs., No. 90-1754V, 1994 WL 67704, at *3 (Fed. Cl.
Spec. Mstr. Feb. 18, 1994) (Section 13(b)(2) “must be construed so as to give effect also to §
13(b)(1) which directs the special master or court to consider the medical records (reports,
diagnosis, conclusions, medical judgment, test reports, etc.), but does not require the special
master or court to be bound by them”).

       C.      Causation

       To receive compensation through the Program, Petitioner must prove either (1) that she
suffered a “Table Injury”—i.e., an injury listed on the Vaccine Injury Table—corresponding to a
vaccine that she received, or (2) that she suffered an injury that was actually caused by a
vaccination. See §§ 11(c)(1), 13(a)(1)(A); Capizzano, 440 F.3d at 1319-20. Petitioner must
show that the vaccine was “not only a but-for cause of the injury but also a substantial factor in
bringing about the injury.” Moberly, 592 F.3d at 1321 (quoting Shyface, 165 F.3d at 1352-53).

       Because Petitioner does not allege she suffered a Table Injury, she must prove a vaccine
she received actually caused her injury. To do so, Petitioner must establish, by preponderant
evidence: “(1) a medical theory causally connecting the vaccination and the injury; (2) a logical
sequence of cause and effect showing that the vaccination was the reason for the injury; and (3) a
showing of a proximate temporal relationship between vaccination and injury.” Althen, 418 F.3d
at 1278.

        The causation theory must relate to the injury alleged. Petitioner must provide a sound
and reliable medical or scientific explanation that pertains specifically to this case, although the
explanation need only be “legally probable, not medically or scientifically certain.” Knudsen v.
Sec’y of Health & Hum. Servs., 35 F.3d 543, 548-49 (Fed. Cir. 1994). Petitioner cannot
establish entitlement to compensation based solely on her assertions; rather, a vaccine claim must
be supported either by medical records or by the opinion of a medical doctor. § 13(a)(1). In
determining whether Petitioner is entitled to compensation, the special master shall consider all
material in the record, including “any . . . conclusion, [or] medical judgment . . . which is

                                                41
contained in the record regarding . . . causation.” § 13(b)(1)(A). The special master must weigh
the submitted evidence and the testimony of the parties’ proffered experts and rule in Petitioner’s
favor when the evidence weighs in her favor. See Moberly, 592 F.3d at 1325-26 (“Finders of
fact are entitled—indeed, expected—to make determinations as to the reliability of the evidence
presented to them and, if appropriate, as to the credibility of the persons presenting that
evidence.”); Althen, 418 F.3d at 1280 (noting that “close calls” are resolved in Petitioner’s
favor).

        “Expert medical testimony which merely expresses the possibility—not the probability—
of the occurrence of a compensable injury is insufficient, by itself, to substantiate the claim that
such an injury occurred.” LaCour v. Sec’y of Health & Hum. Servs., No. 90-316V, 1991 WL
66579, at *5 (Fed. Cl. Spec. Mstr. Apr. 15, 1991); accord Burns v. Sec’y of Health & Hum.
Servs., No. 90-953V, 1992 WL 365410, at *6 (Fed. Cl. Spec. Mstr. Nov. 6, 1992), aff’d, 3 F.3d
415. The Federal Circuit has likewise made clear that the mere possibility of a link between a
vaccination and a petitioner’s injury is not sufficient to satisfy the preponderance standard.
Moberly, 592 F.3d at 1322 (emphasizing that “proof of a ‘plausible’ or ‘possible’ causal link
between the vaccine and the injury” does not equate to proof of causation by a preponderance of
the evidence); Waterman v. Sec’y of Health & Hum. Servs., 123 Fed. Cl. 564, 573-74 (2015)
(denying Petitioner’s motion for review and noting that a possible causal link was not sufficient
to meet the preponderance standard); Boatmon v. Sec’y of Health & Hum. Servs., 941 F.3d
1351, 1359-60 (Fed. Cir. 2019). While certainty is by no means required, a possible mechanism
does not rise to the level of preponderance. Moberly, 592 F.3d at 1322; see also de Bazan, 539
F.3d at 1351.

IV.    ANALYSIS

       A.      Diagnosis

        As Federal Circuit precedent establishes, in certain cases it is appropriate to determine the
nature of an injury before engaging in the Althen analysis. Broekelschen v. Sec’y of Health &
Hum. Servs., 618 F.3d 1339, 1346 (Fed. Cir. 2010). Since “each prong of the Althen test is
decided relative to the injury[,]” determining facts relating to the claimed injury can be
significant in a case like this, where the parties dispute Petitioner’s diagnosis. Id. Thus, before
determining if Petitioner has met each prong of Althen, the undersigned addresses the issue of
diagnosis.

         The undersigned finds that there is preponderant evidence that Petitioner’s initial
diagnosis following vaccination was GBS. This finding is based on her clinical course,
diagnostic tests, the opinions of Petitioner’s treating physicians, and the opinions of Petitioner’s
experts. Further, the undersigned finds that given the facts and circumstances of this case,
Petitioner was subsequently diagnosed with CIDP due to the chronicity of her illness; she did not
initially present with CIDP. Further, Petitioner’s diagnosis of CIDP did not indicate that she did
not initially have GBS. Instead, the diagnosis of CIDP was used by Petitioner’s physicians to
signify that her GBS had become chronic. Petitioner’s CIDP was the chronic version of her
GBS.

                                                 42
        Petitioner received her Prevnar 13 vaccination on September 22, 2016. On October 5,
she had tingling in her hands. Petitioner was admitted to BJH on October 12 for numbness that
had persisted for ten days. She also had mild asymmetric weakness, bilateral areflexia, and
decreased sensation below the right and left knee and the right and left forearm. On October 13,
a barium swallow revealed that Petitioner had abnormal swallowing, nasal regurgitation, and
weakness at the base of her tongue. On October 14, Petitioner had worsening weakness and was
transferred to the ICU. Twelve days later, on October 26, urologist Dr. Shands documented that
she was having incontinence. Dr. Shands also observed that her “neurologic symptoms do not
appear to have stabilized yet.” Pet. Ex. 3 at 53. By October 27, Petitioner could not move her
toes, had no strength in her feet, and could not walk.

        According to the literature filed by the parties, early symptoms of GBS may include
tingling of the distal extremities. Early symptoms are followed by progressive weakness
associated with decreased or absent deep tendon reflexes, which may be relatively symmetric.
Weakness progresses, reaching the clinical nadir of weakness within two to four weeks. Here,
Petitioner had the tingling in her hands on October 5, 2016, followed by mild weakness and
bilateral loss of reflexes on October 12. By October 27, approximately two weeks after onset of
weakness, she was incontinent and unable to walk. Thus, Petitioner’s mild weakness progressed
to an inability to move her toes or walk in a period of approximately two weeks. This clinical
course is consistent with GBS.

        Further, Petitioner’s diagnostic tests were consistent with GBS. Petitioner’s EMG/NCS
on October 12, 2016, showed absent SNAPs in multiple locations consistent with GBS.
Additionally, CSF testing showed an abnormally elevated protein level in the context of a normal
cell count, which is also consistent with GBS.

       Moreover, Petitioner was seen by a number of different physicians, who all diagnosed her
with GBS, and her medical records are replete with the diagnosis of GBS. For example, on
admission to BJH on October 12, 2016, Dr. Wilks noted Petitioner’s “week-long course . . . of
ascending sensory numbness associated with weakness in the setting of recent Pneumovax
administration.” Pet. Ex. 2 at 632. Petitioner’s admitting diagnosis was GBS. On October 14,
Dr. Wilks again documented a diagnosis of GBS. On October 20, the date of discharge from
BJH, Petitioner’s diagnosis was still GBS. On admission to Missouri Baptist for rehabilitation
on October 20, Petitioner’s admitting diagnosis was also GBS.

         Numerous specialists saw Petitioner for complications with her GBS, and they also
documented a diagnosis of GBS. Dr. Firozi, the gastroenterologist who treated Petitioner for an
ileus, attributed her gastrointestinal problems to her GBS. Urologist Dr. Shands noted that
Petitioner had incontinence in the face of GBS. On December 6, 2016, Petitioner was admitted
to Cedar Ridge, a skilled nursing facility, where her admitting diagnosis was GBS.

        The Sejvar et al. article that documented the Brighton Collaborative Working Group’s
efforts to distinguish between GBS and CIDP, advised that CIDP “typically has an onset phase
of [more than] 8 weeks, and the weakness may remit and relapse.” Resp. Ex. E, Tab 3 at 4. It
does not appear that Petitioner’s onset phase lasted more than eight weeks, as her weakness
progressed from mild to profound inability to walk within about two weeks. Using the Brighton

                                               43
timeline, Petitioner would not have been characterized as having CIDP. Although Petitioner had
a very lengthy initial course of her illness, it is not clear that she had periods of relapse. Instead,
the trajectory of her illness suggests that she had severe weakness, and several serious
complications of GBS. Her complications included an ileus that persisted and required transfer
to an acute medical floor during her rehabilitation. She also had autonomic dysfunction, which
appears to have caused hypotension, making it difficult for her to participate in physical therapy.
She also developed deep vein thrombosis, which also required acute medical care. It is not
evident, however, that Petitioner ever had “separate episodes of recurrence of symptoms,” which
are typical for CIDP. See Resp. Ex. E, Tab 3, at 4.

        Neurologist Dr. Sommerville was the first to question whether Petitioner’s condition had
worsened. He evaluated Petitioner on October 20, 2016, the day she was initially discharged
from BJH. At that time, her diagnosis was GBS. Also at that time, her weakness had not
progressed to the point that she was incontinent or unable to walk. Dr. Sommerville did not see
Petitioner again for over two months, until December 29, 2016. At that visit, he observed that
Petitioner’s condition had worsened.89 However, the timeline described in the records establish
that Petitioner had not yet reached the nadir of her weakness on October 20, 2016, when Dr.
Sommerville performed his assessment. It was not until October 27, that the records indicate
Petitioner was unable to move her toes or walk. Dr. Sommerville did not see or evaluate her
after October 20, so he did not see her when her weakness was most profound. Thus, when he
saw her on December 29, after not seeing her for two months, it may have been difficult for him
to accurately assess when the worsening in her condition occurred. He acknowledged this
possibility on December 29, when he stated, “it is possible, of course, that she did get her clinical
nadir shortly after the discharge [October 20], though well within two weeks of symptoms onset,
and that, in fact she has improved compared to that.” Pet. Ex. 6 at 11.

        When Petitioner was readmitted to BJH on January 23, 2017, Dr. Bamaga indicated that
Petitioner had been diagnosed with CIDP due to the “chronicity” of her condition. Pet. Ex. 2 at
1775. This understanding of why Petitioner was diagnosed with CIDP was also embraced by Dr.
Nguyen on March 6, 2017, when he wrote, “patient was originally diagnosed with [GBS] in
[suggestion of] pneumonia shot . . . . Patient strength was not returning very well and outpatient
neurologist . . . ultimately diagnos[ed] her with CIDP.” Pet. Ex. 7 at 42. There is no suggestion
in Petitioner’s medical records that any of her physicians ever thought that her initial diagnosis
of GBS was inaccurate. There is no support for the idea that she had two different distinct
illnesses, GBS and CIDP, or that her initial diagnosis should have been CIDP.

        After treatment with steroids and rehabilitation, Petitioner’s condition improved. In July
2019, Dr. Sommerville suggested that she had “a monophasic course of CIDP.” Pet. Ex. 22 at 7.
The next year, on January 24, 2020, Dr. Sommerville’s diagnosis was “monophasic CIDP, with
continued absence of any signs of a relapse.” Pet. Ex. 35 at 20. At the time of the hearing,
Petitioner had not had any relapse of her condition.

89
  Dr. Sommerville’s notes for the visit on December 29, 2016, state that in the past three weeks,
while at Cedar Ridge, Petitioner’s caretakers told Petitioner that she was improving, and that
Petitioner also thought she was improving. Pet. Ex. 6 at 10. This history suggests that Petitioner
was improving, and not worsening.

                                                  44
        GBS is “characterized by acute areflexic paralysis with albuminocytologic dissociation.”
Resp. Ex. C, Tab 2 at 1. In most patients, symptoms continue to progress for up to one to three
weeks after onset. “Two thirds of patients are unable to walk [] when maximum weakness is
reached. . . . Among severely affected patients, 20% remain unable to walk 6 months after onset
of symptoms.” Id. at 3. In contrast, “CIDP continues to progress or has relapses for greater than
8 weeks.” Resp. Ex. A, Tab 2 at 1. “CIDP should be suspected when a patient with GBS
deteriorates after 9 weeks from onset or when deterioration occurs three times or more.” Resp.
Ex. A, Tab 3 at 2. The course of CIDP is “slowly progressive, often relapsing.” Resp. Ex. C,
Tab 1 at 15. It is “more frequently diagnosed by nerve biopsy than GBS/AIDP, especially in
atypical cases.” Id.

        Taking Petitioner’s full clinical course into consideration, the undersigned finds that
Petitioner was appropriately diagnosed with GBS. Subsequently, whether she met the criteria for
a diagnosis of CIDP is less clear. Petitioner’s medical records establish that her presentation was
acute, and that she progressed from mild weakness to paralysis (unable to move toes or walk)
within approximately two weeks. Further, a nerve biopsy was not done to confirm the diagnosis
of CIDP. Given her acute progression, Petitioner does not meet the criteria for a diagnosis of
CIDP. Additionally, Petitioner had a monophasic course. She did not have separate episodes or
recurrence of illness that is characteristic of CIDP.

        There is, however, a definitional framework for CIDP that is consistent with Petitioner’s
clinical course and with her diagnoses of both GBS and CIDP. The NINDS, part of the NIH,
provides that “CIDP is closely related to [GBS] and it is considered the chronic counterpart of
that acute disease.” Resp. Ex. E, Tab 5 at 1. Dyck and Tracy90 describe the history of CIDP and
note that due to a prior study of patients in 1975, it was “recognized that CIDP was different
from [GBS] in that it was progressive and ongoing.” Resp. Ex. E, Tab 7 at 3. But the authors
added that “[t]he justification of the separation of CIDP from AIDP was made mostly because of
the different temporal profiles and long-term outcome of these 2 entities.” Id.

        Here, it appears that Dr. Sommerville made the diagnosis of CIDP because of the
chronicity of Petitioner’s illness. This approach is consistent with the definition used by the
NINDS, which considers CIDP to be the chronic counterpart of GBS. But recharacterizing
Petitioner’s illness based on its chronicity does not negate the fact that she had an acute onset
that was accurately diagnosed as GBS.

        This finding is consistent with case law. The Federal Circuit has made clear that
“identifying [the Petitioner’s] injury is a prerequisite” to the Althen analysis. Broekelschen, 618
F.3d at 1346. But it is not necessary to diagnose an exact condition. Astle v. Sec’y of Health &
Hum. Servs., No. 14-369V, 2018 WL 2682974, at *19 (Fed. Cl. Spec. Mstr. May 15, 2018). In
Lombardi, the Federal Circuit explained that “[t]he function of a special master is not to diagnose
vaccine-related injuries, but instead to determine based on the record evidence as a whole and the

90
  James B. Dyck & Jennifer A. Tracy, History, Diagnosis, and Management of Chronic
Inflammatory Demyelinating Polyradiculoneuropathy, 93 Mayo Clinic Proc. 777 (2018).

                                                 45
totality of the case, whether it has been shown by a preponderance of the evidence that a vaccine
caused the [P]etitioner’s injury.” Lombardi v. Sec’y of Health & Hum. Servs., 656 F.3d 1343,
1351 (Fed. Cir. 2011) (internal quotation marks omitted) (quoting Andreu, 569 F.3d at 1382); see
also Broekelschen, 618 F.3d at 1346 (citing Kelley v. Sec’y of Health & Hum. Servs., 68 Fed.
Cl. 84, 100-01 (2005) for the proposition that “the [P]etitioner [is] not required to categorize his
injury where the two possible diagnoses [are] ‘variants of the same disorder’”). Furthermore,
neither the Vaccine Act nor Althen burdens Petitioner with establishing a specific diagnosis. See
Kelley, 68 Fed. Cl. at 100 (“The Vaccine Act does not require [P]etitioners coming under the
non-Table injury provision to categorize their injury; they are merely required to show that the
vaccine in question caused them injury—regardless of the ultimate diagnosis.”).

       Therefore, undersigned finds that Petitioner has proven by preponderant evidence that she
suffered GBS following her Prevnar 13 vaccination. Her illness was subsequently diagnosed as
CIDP, but that fact does not invalidate her original diagnosis of GBS.

       B.      Causation

               1.      Althen Prong One

         Under Althen Prong One, Petitioner must set forth a medical theory explaining how the
received vaccine could have caused the sustained injury. Andreu, 569 F.3d at 1375; Pafford, 451
F.3d at 1355-56. Petitioner’s theory of causation need not be medically or scientifically certain,
but it must be informed by a “sound and reliable” medical or scientific explanation. Boatmon v.
Sec’y of Health & Hum. Servs., 941 F.3d 1351, 1359 (Fed. Cir. 2019); see also Knudsen, 35
F.3d at 548; Veryzer v. Sec’y of Health & Hum. Servs., 98 Fed. Cl. 214, 223 (2011) (noting that
special masters are bound by both § 13(b)(1) and Vaccine Rule 8(b)(1) to consider only evidence
that is both “relevant” and “reliable”). If Petitioner relies upon a medical opinion to support her
theory, the basis for the opinion and the reliability of that basis must be considered in the
determination of how much weight to afford the offered opinion. See Broekelschen, 618 F.3d at
1347 (“The special master’s decision often times is based on the credibility of the experts and the
relative persuasiveness of their competing theories.”); Perreira v. Sec’y of Health & Hum. Servs.,
33 F.3d 1375, 1377 n.6 (Fed. Cir. 1994) (stating that an “expert opinion is no better than the
soundness of the reasons supporting it” (citing Fehrs v. United States, 620 F.2d 255, 265 (Ct. Cl.
1980))).

        For the following reasons, the undersigned finds Petitioner has provided by preponderant
evidence a sound and reliable theory that the Prevnar 13 vaccine can cause GBS, and
subsequently CIDP, defined specific to this case as described above, and therefore, Petitioner has
satisfied the first Althen prong.

       Molecular mimicry has long been invoked as the causal mechanism for many different
autoimmune diseases, including GBS. Many of the articles filed in this case support the
mechanism as the leading hypothesis for the etiology of GBS. See, e.g., Pet. Ex. 17a at 1. The
theory has been extended from infectious agents to vaccine-associated autoimmune illnesses,
including GBS. See, e.g., Pet. Ex. 17o; Pet. Ex. 28c.

                                                46
        Molecular mimicry has been accepted as a sound and reliable theory in many
demyelinating conditions, including GBS, in the Vaccine Program, forming the basis for
petitioners to be entitled to compensation. See, e.g., Conte v. Sec’y of Health & Hum. Servs.,
No. 17-403V, 2020 WL 5743696, at *23 (Fed. Cl. Spec. Mstr. July 27, 2020) (noting the theory
of molecular mimicry in a GBS case is “well-established and well-settled in the Vaccine
Program”); Barone v. Sec’y of Health & Hum. Servs., No. 11-707V, 2014 WL 6834557, at *8-9
(Fed. Cl. Spec. Mstr. Nov. 12, 2014) (noting molecular mimicry “has been accepted in other
Program cases as a reliable medical explanation for how various autoimmune conditions could
develop after the receipt of different kinds of vaccinations”); Koller v. Sec’y of Health & Hum.
Servs., No. 16-439V, 2021 WL 5027947, at *18 (Fed. Cl. Spec. Mstr. Oct. 8, 2021); Pierson v.
Sec’y of Health & Hum. Servs., No. 17-1136V, 2022 WL 322836, at *31 (Fed. Cl. Spec. Mstr.
Jan. 19, 2022); Deshler v. Sec’y of Health & Hum. Servs., No. 16-1070V, 2020 WL 4593162, at
*19 (Fed. Cl. Spec. Mstr. July 1, 2020); Maloney v. Sec’y of Health & Hum. Servs., No. 19-
1713V, 2022 WL 1074087 (Fed. Cl. Spec. Mstr. Mar. 17, 2022).91

        Dr. Chaudhry and Dr. Rose both assert that four criteria must be met to establish whether
a vaccine can cause GBS via molecular mimicry. The criteria include supportive epidemiology,
identification of antibodies directed against human antigens, identification of the mimics of the
target antigen, and reproduction in an animal model. Given the state of current scientific
knowledge, a petitioner could not satisfy these criteria. Further, fulfilment of these criteria
would require scientific certainty, which is a bar too high. See Knudsen, 35 F.3d at 549
(explaining that “to require identification and proof of specific biological mechanisms would be
inconsistent with the purpose and nature of the vaccine compensation program”).

         Dr. Whitton takes a different tack. He criticizes the fact that Petitioner has not invoked a
causal mechanism that implicates gangliosides as the targets of autoimmunity. However, the
literature filed by the parties does not support the notion that gangliosides are the only player in
the game of molecular mimicry. Thus, the argument that the Petitioner’s mechanism must rely
on gangliosides fails.

        There is scientific support for Dr. Steinman’s theories. To use the language in the criteria
cited by Dr. Chaudhry, Dr. Steinman has identified components of the vaccine that could initiate
development of antibodies that could cross-react with epitopes on peripheral nerve myelin or
axonal glycoproteins. He has identified components of the Prevnar 13 vaccine that could trigger
a human antibody response.

        Regarding Petitioner’s theory based on phosphoglycerol in serotypes 18C in the vaccine,
Dr. Steinman produced papers to show that in MS, myelin phospholipids are targeted by an
immune response. He has also shown that myelin is comprised of phospholipids, and that
phospholipids can serve as autoantigens in autoimmune disorders. He has shown that patients
with GBS have autoantibodies to phospholipids. In the Gilburd et al. study, the autoantibodies
were thought to be due to myelin destruction. However, in Nakos et al., the researchers had a

91
  The undersigned acknowledges that the first two cases in this string cite involve a different
vaccine, although the same illness.

                                                 47
different view. They suggested that anti-phospholipids either “play a role in pathogenesis of the
polyneuropathy or represent a part of a more extensive immunoreaction that takes place in
GBS.” Pet. Ex. 25h at 7. In summary, there is sound support from reputable medical studies for
each foundational aspect of the phosphoglycerol theory.

       There is also evidence to support Dr. Steinman’s second theory based on CRM197 and
Contactin-1. Dr. Steinman identified sequences of shared homology between the proteins in the
vaccine and those in Contactin-1.92

       Moreover, the causal theory proffered by Dr. Steinman here has previously been accepted
as sound and reliable in three recent cases, decided by different special masters, including the
undersigned. See Maloney, 2022 WL 1074087; Koller, 2021 WL 5027947; Pierson, 2022 WL
322836. While prior decisions are not binding on the undersigned, they can be considered by the
undersigned in forming her opinions. See Hanlon v. Sec’y of Health & Hum. Servs., 40 Fed. Cl.
625, 630 (1998), aff’d, 191 F.3d 1344 (Fed. Cir. 1999); Boatmon, 941 F.3d at 1358.

        In another decision addressing the Prevnar 13 vaccine and GBS, the proffered causal
theory was unsupported by evidence, and the Chief Special Master found that Petitioner was not
entitled to compensation. Deshler, 2020 WL 4593162. There, the Petitioner relied on molecular
mimicry, and suggested that there was homology between polysaccharide components of the
vaccine and the myelin sheath, but evidence was insufficient to establish the scientific soundness
of the theory. Id. at *19-21. Due to the lack of supportive evidence, the Respondent’s expert
was effective in establishing that the polysaccharides in the vaccine “do not share structural
homology with self-structures of the peripheral nervous system, and therefore do not contribute
to the pathogenesis of GBS.” Id. at *20. In contrast, the theory proffered here is more well-
developed and based on supportive foundational evidence from several scientific studies.

       For these reasons, the undersigned finds that Petitioner has proven by preponderant
evidence a sound and reliable causal theory establishing that the Prevnar 13 vaccine can cause
GBS, satisfying Althen Prong One.

               2.      Althen Prong Two

        Under Althen Prong Two, Petitioner must prove by a preponderance of the evidence that
there is a “logical sequence of cause and effect showing that the vaccination was the reason for
the injury.” Capizzano, 440 F.3d at 1324 (quoting Althen, 418 F.3d at 1278). “Petitioner must
show that the vaccine was the ‘but for’ cause of the harm . . . or in other words, that the vaccine
was the ‘reason for the injury.’” Pafford, 451 F.3d at 1356 (internal citations omitted).

        In evaluating whether this prong is satisfied, the opinions and views of the vaccinee’s
treating physicians are entitled to some weight. Andreu, 569 F.3d at 1367; Capizzano, 440 F.3d
at 1326 (“[M]edical records and medical opinion testimony are favored in vaccine cases, as
treating physicians are likely to be in the best position to determine whether a ‘logical sequence

92
  The undersigned makes no finding as to the aspect of Dr. Steinman’s theory based on the
adjuvant alum, as it was not well developed.

                                                48
of cause and effect show[s] that the vaccination was the reason for the injury.’” (quoting Althen,
418 F.3d at 1280)). Medical records are generally viewed as trustworthy evidence, since they are
created contemporaneously with the treatment of the vaccinee. Cucuras, 993 F.2d at 1528.
While the medical records and opinions of treating physicians must be considered, they are not
binding on the special master. § 13(b)(1)(B) (specifically stating that the “diagnosis, conclusion,
judgment, test result, report, or summary shall not be binding on the special master or court”).

        A petitioner need not make a specific type of evidentiary showing, i.e., “epidemiologic
studies, rechallenge, the presence of pathological markers or genetic predisposition, or general
acceptance in the scientific or medical communities to establish a logical sequence of cause and
effect.” Capizzano, 440 F.3d at 1325. Instead, Petitioner may satisfy her burden by presenting
circumstantial evidence and reliable medical opinions. Id. at 1325-26.

        There are three reasons why the undersigned finds preponderant evidence of a logical
sequence of cause and effect establishing that the Prevnar 13 vaccination administered to
Petitioner on September 22, 2016, was the cause of her GBS, which was subsequently diagnosed
as CIDP. First, Petitioner was initially and appropriately diagnosed with GBS, and Petitioner has
proffered a sound and reliable mechanism of vaccine causation.

        Second, Petitioner’s various treating physicians’ statements provide circumstantial
evidence in support of vaccine causation. On October 12, 2016, Dr. Wilks documented
Petitioner had “noncontributory past medical history with week-long course of symptoms of
ascending sensory numbness associated with weakness in setting of recent Pneumovax
administration.” Pet. Ex. 2 at 632. Two days later, Dr. Wilks noted that Petitioner’s GBS was
“[l]ikely [secondary to] recent Pneumovax administration.” Id. at 678. On October 25, 2016,
Dr. Shands’ consult notes indicate Petitioner “had a pneumonia shot a couple weeks ago and was
normally functioning at that time. [S]he began having weakness and numbness and now had
full-blown [GBS].” Pet. Ex. 3 at 52. Petitioner’s discharge note from Missouri Baptist on
October 27 states “[GBS] from pneumonia vaccine.” Id. at 29. On March 6, 2017, regarding the
diagnosis of CIDP, Dr. Nguyen documented, “patient originally presented to BJH with complaint
of [right] hand numbness 1 week after a pneumonia shot. . . . During this admission patient was
originally diagnosed with [GBS] in [suggestion of] pneumonia shot.” Pet. Ex. 7 at 42. Finally,
on June 24, 2021, Petitioner’s PCP, PA-C Boyer, identified Prevnar 13 as an allergy related to
Petitioner’s CIDP. Pet. Ex. 36 at 12. Individually and collectively, these statements constitute
circumstantial evidence that the Petitioner’s treating physicians associated her vaccine with the
development of GBS, and subsequently, CIDP.

        Third, the evidence does not support an alternate cause for Petitioner’s GBS/CIDP. Dr.
Chaudhry stated Petitioner’s underlying diabetes and possible nutritional deficiency, related to
her gastric bypass surgery, may have contributed to the neuropathy as well. Although Dr.
Chaudhry suggests these conditions “contributed” to Petitioner’s condition, he does not opine
that they likely caused her GBS/CIDP.

        Further, the medical records and diagnostic workup did not identify any alternate cause of
Petitioner’s illnesses. There is no reference to an antecedent infection or other possible etiology.
During her multiple hospitalizations, Petitioner underwent diagnostic studies of her cerebrospinal

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fluid to investigate the cause of her GBS. The studies were all negative for any other cause. The
only causal association documented in the Petitioner’s medical record was the Prevnar 13
vaccine.

        In conclusion, the undersigned finds that Petitioner has proven by preponderant evidence
a logical sequence of cause and effect establishing that the Prevnar 13 vaccination caused her
GBS/CIDP and has satisfied the second Althen prong.

               3.     Althen Prong Three

        Althen Prong Three requires Petitioner to establish a “proximate temporal relationship”
between the vaccination and the injury alleged. Althen, 418 F.3d at 1281. That phrase has been
defined as a “medically acceptable temporal relationship.” Id. A petitioner must offer
“preponderant proof that the onset of symptoms occurred within a timeframe for which, given
the medical understanding of the disorder’s etiology, it is medically acceptable to infer
causation-in-fact.” de Bazan, 539 F.3d at 1352. The explanation for what is a medically
acceptable time frame must also coincide with the theory of how the relevant vaccine can cause
the injury alleged (under Althen Prong One). Id.; Koehn v. Sec’y of Health & Hum. Servs., 773
F.3d 1239, 1243 (Fed. Cir. 2014); Shapiro, 101 Fed. Cl. at 542 (2011), recons. den’d after
remand, 105 Fed. Cl. 353 (2012), aff’d mem., 503 F. App’x 952 (Fed. Cir. 2013).

        Here, the Respondent’s experts do not disagree that there is a temporal association
between Petitioner’s vaccination and onset of GBS. Dr. Chaudhry does not offer an opinion on
the issue of temporal association, while Dr. Whitton opined that the temporal association
between Petitioner’s Prevnar 13 vaccination and her GBS was “coincidental.” Resp. Ex. F at 28.

        Petitioner received her Prevnar 13 vaccination on September 22, 2016. She had early
symptoms of tingling on October 5, followed by progressive numbness in her hands and feet.
Dr. Wilks’ notes on October 12 states Petitioner has “noncontributory past medical history with
week-long course of symptoms of ascending sensory numbness associated with weakness in
setting of recent Pneumovax administration.” Pet. Ex. 2 at 632. Her admitting diagnosis was
GBS. Id. at 491. Thus, the earliest manifestation of symptoms, the tingling in Petitioner’s hands
on October 5, was 13 days after vaccination.

       This time frame from vaccination to the initial manifestation of symptoms is appropriate
given the theory of molecular mimicry, as demonstrated in the Haber et al. article, which
reported 11 cases of GBS following a Prevnar 13 vaccine, with a median onset interval of 9 days.
This temporal association is also consistent with the onset period of 3 to 42 days as set forth in
the Vaccine Injury Table for GBS following flu vaccination. 42 C.F.R. § 100.3(a)(XIV)(D).

        Further, this time frame has been acknowledged as appropriate in other Vaccine Program
cases in which molecular mimicry has been proffered as the causal mechanism. See, e.g.,
Maloney, 2022 WL 1074087, at 36; Koller, 2021 WL 5027947, at *23 (finding a GBS onset of
12 days after Prevnar 13 vaccination to be “within the medically accepted timeframe consistent
with [P]etitioner’s theory of molecular mimicry [and] that has been accepted in other Vaccine
Program cases.”); Barone, 2014 WL 6834557, at *13 (“[S]pecial masters have never gone

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beyond a two-month (meaning eight week) interval in holding that a vaccination caused a
demyelinating illness.”).

       Therefore, undersigned finds that Petitioner has met her burden of proof as to Althen
Prong Three.

V.     CONCLUSION

        Based on the record as a whole, and for the reasons discussed above, the undersigned
finds there is preponderant evidence to satisfy all three Althen prongs and to establish that
Petitioner’s Prevnar 13 vaccination caused her GBS and CIDP. Thus, the undersigned finds that
Petitioner is entitled to compensation. A separate damages order will issue.

       IT IS SO ORDERED.

                                                    s/Nora Beth Dorsey
                                                    Nora Beth Dorsey
                                                    Special Master

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