Narcolepsy Link Confirmed in Rare Cases Following Swine Flu Vaccination
Berlin – A specific protein within the swine flu virus, and perhaps amplified by the now-discontinued pandemrix vaccine, has been definitively linked to a rare increase in cases of narcolepsy, a chronic neurological disorder affecting the brain’s ability to regulate sleep-wake cycles. research indicates the immune response triggered by both vaccination and infection can, in certain individuals, mistakenly target nerve cells responsible for producing hypocretin, a key messenger substance in the brain.
The connection emerged after observing a slight increase in narcolepsy diagnoses following the 2009 swine flu pandemic. Scientists discovered that the surface protein of the swine flu virus could provoke an immune response directed against hypocretin-producing nerve cells or their receptors. This affect,however,only manifests when combined with specific genetic predispositions.The Pandemrix vaccine,used extensively during the pandemic,contained this surface protein and a vaccine amplifier that may have contributed to the increased risk.
Pandemrix is no longer in use within the European Union, nor is the specific vaccine amplifier it contained. Importantly, health officials emphasize that individuals vaccinated with Pandemrix are not at continued risk, as cases developed within days to weeks of vaccination – indicating a direct, rather than long-term, effect. The rarity of the side effect initially hindered its detection in clinical trials due to insufficient participant numbers.
