Federal claims court hears first vaccine-autism link case.   ABC World News (6/11, story 8, 2:25, Gibson) reported, "In Washington, a landmark legal battle got under way today in an attempt by parents with children with autism to prove in court their belief that common childhood vaccinations have caused the condition." ABC (Stark) added, "The mercury-based preservative thimerosal, once routinely used in childhood vaccines, is at the root of their child's autism. But, previous scientific studies, and the prestigious Institute of Medicine, have found no link between childhood vaccines and autism. Researchers also say when thimerosal was largely taken out of vaccines, autism cases did not decline."
      The CBS Evening News (6/11, story 4, 2:40, Couric) reported, "Before the 1990s, it was estimated as few as one in 5,000 children in America had autism. But the latest CDC report estimates that number has grown now to one in 150. Government experts don't know why, but they insist it has nothing to do with childhood vaccines. Many parents, though, feel differently, and they had their first hearing ever today in a special federal court."
      NBC Nightly News (6/11, lead story, 2:45, Williams) reported, "Nearly 5,000 cases have been filed by parents who believe these vaccines caused their children to develop autism. Now a federal court will sort out the facts and the science. Parents of autistic parents nationwide are following this unusual legal drama. The test case is brought by an Arizona couple Michael and Theresa Cedillo. They claim their daughter Michelle was a happy baby until she was given a routine childhood vaccine."
      The AP (6/12, Bridges) reports that the "case of Michelle Cedillo, of Yuma, Ariz., is the first alleging a vaccine-autism link to be heard in the U.S. Court of Federal Claims. It and eight other test cases are important because they will guide the handling of the other pending claims." Most of the claims contend that "thimerosal is to blame for the impaired social interaction typical of the disorder." Should the claimants prevail, "the families will be eligible for compensation from a federal vaccine injury fund established by Congress to ensure an adequate supply of vaccines by shielding manufacturers from lawsuits. No autism claim has been paid from the fund thus far." Notably, "large scientific studies have found no association between autism and vaccines containing thimerosal."
      AHN (6/12, Shannon) reports that the "case presented Monday contends that vaccines for mumps, measles and rubella combined with vaccines that contain thimerosal cause autism." The court is specifically "being asked to decide whether or not a link is possible, not whether one actually exists. This makes the burden of proof easier on the plaintiffs." In 1999, the government "asked that the use of mercury in vaccines be as limited as possible to prevent the possibility of poisoning. Common symptoms of mercury poisoning include anxiety, fatigue, abnormal irritation, and cognitive and motor dysfunction."
      HealthDay (6/12) also notes the case in its health highlights section; and, the New York Times (6/12, Shattuck, Durkin) includes an op-ed and the Wall Street Journal (6/12, Goldstein) includes a health blog on the possible vaccine-autism link.

 

FDA panel to review weight-loss, suicidality link.   The Wall Street Journal (6/12, D6, Dooren) reports that the FDA on "Monday said Acomplia (rimonabant), a proposed weight-loss drug by Sanofi-Aventis SA, was effective at promoting weight loss but appeared to double the rate of suicidal thoughts and behavior." The drug is sold in "several European countries and the Paris company is seeking approval to sell the drug in the U.S." Acomplia, which would be sold under the brand name "Zimulti in the U.S., faces a review Wednesday by an FDA panel of outside medical experts." In its health highlights section, HealthDay (6/12) adds that the "FDA has already postponed a decision on rimonabant three times."

 

Study suggests link between psychological distress, cognitive impairment.   MedPage Today (6/12, Smith) reports that "mild cognitive impairment is more likely to develop in those who are beset by chronic mental distress than those who worry the least," according to research reported in the June 12 issue of Neurology. In an analysis of prospective data "from two large studies of aging and the brain, the risk of developing mild cognitive impairment over a 12-year follow-up increased by about 2 percent for every one-point increase on a measure of chronic distress." Depression, however, "although known to predict cognitive impairment and dementia, appeared in this study to be merely a 'proxy for the enduring tendency to experience negative emotions.'" WebMD (6/12, Hitti) also reports the study.

Blood pressure drop may increase risk of post-op cognitive dysfunction.   MedPage Today (6/12, Peck) reports that "mean arterial pressure declines during a coronary bypass surgery, but a mean drop of 27 mm Hg or more may increase the risk of post-operative cognitive dysfunction," according to findings reported in today's Archives of Neurology. In a series of 15 bypass patients who had a high risk of stroke, "the mean decline was associated with a mean decrease of 1.4 points on the Mini-Mental State Examination." And when a patient "who had an acute stroke during surgery was excluded from analysis, a decrease of 18 mm Hg or less was associated with a one-point improvement in mean MMSE."