Neurologists are being asked to report to the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS) any cases of suspected Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) associated with vaccination against the 2009 pandemic influenza A (H1N1) virus. The request is a joint effort of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the American Academy of Neurology. Although the new vaccine is not expected to increase the risk for GBS, the request is being made proactively because of the GBS cases associated with the 1976 swine flu vaccine.

A monovalent vaccine against the H1N1 virus is in development, and vaccinations are planned to start this fall, with a focus on infants, children, and young adults through age 24; adults older than 24 with underlying health conditions; and healthcare workers.

The AAN last published guidelines on treating GBS in 2003. Either plasma exchange or intravenous immunoglobulin (but not both) is recommended to speed recovery, although more adverse effects have been associated with plasma exchange.

Report forms for the CDC/FDA VAERS program are available at http://vaers.hhs.gov.