VACCINE

“... in rats, the pertussis component of DTPoP
acts on the cardiovascular system and disturbs its circadian rhythm.”
Laboratory Animals • 2000
Disturbance of cardiovascular circadian rhythms
by pertussis vaccine in freely-moving rats
W. Vleeming, A. van de Kuil, J. D. te Biesebeek,
J. W. van der Laan, D. J. de Wildt & J. G. C. van Amsterdam
National Institute of Public Health and the Environment
Laboratory of Health Effects Research
PO Box 1, NL 3720 BA Bilthoven, The Netherlands
Summary
Vaccination of young children with diphtheria, tetanus, poliomyelitis and pertussis (DTPoP) vaccine is effective
in preventing outbreaks of whooping cough but adverse events sometimes occur. This pilot study shows that in
freely-moving rats, multiple treatment with DTPoP (at day 0 and day 5, 6 ml/kg i.v.) increased heart rate (HR)
for 5 days after the first treatment and decreased diastolic blood pressure (DBP)for at least 26 days after the first
treatment and inhibited the circadian rhythm of HR and DBP for at least 10 days. DTPo vaccine, containing no
pertussis vaccine, was free of such effects. Thus, in rats, the pertussis component of DTPoP acts on the cardiovascular
system and disturbs its circadian rhythm. The contribution of these findings to clinical adverse effects is as
yet unknown and needs further research.
http://lan.sagepub.com/content/34/4/399.long