VACCINE

Pharmacotherapy • September 2008
Development of unilateral cervical and
supraclavicular lymphadenopathy after
human papilloma virus vaccination
Author information
Studdiford J1, Lamb K,
Horvath K, Altshuler M, Stonehouse A.
Department of Family and Community Medicine
Jefferson University Hospital
Philadelphia Pennsylvania 19107, USA
Abstract
A 26-year-old woman developed significant unilateral anterior cervical and supraclavicular
lymphadenopathy 3 days after receiving her first dose (of a total
of three doses) of human papilloma virus (HPV) vaccine. She had no history of
lymphadenopathy after other previous immunizations, and had received no vaccines
other than HPV at that time. The left-sided lymphadenopathy developed
after she was vaccinated in the left deltoid muscle. The spatial and temporal
relationships between the appearance of the lymphadenopathy and receipt of
the vaccine in the absence of other causal agents strongly suggest that the HPV
vaccine was the causal agent. Use of the Naranjo adverse drug reaction probability
scale indicated that the HPV vaccine was a probable (score of 6) cause of
the patient’s adverse reaction. The patient received her second dose of the HPV
vaccine 2 months later without further lymphadenopathy. To prevent unnecessary
lymph node biopsies and patient concern, clinicians should be aware that
lymphadenopathy may occur after HPV vaccination.
“clinicians should be aware
that lymphadenopathy may occur
after HPV vaccination.”
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/?term=18752390