Case Study Finds “Strong Association” Between Side Effects of Gardasil and POTS

A recently released case study outlines the strong link between Merck’s HPV vaccine Gardasil and POTS (post orthostatic tachycardia syndrome), which is an autoimmune disorder that can cause persistent lightheadedness, fainting and rapid heartbeats.

Gardasil was first introduced by Merck in 2016, for protection against HPV infections that can be sexually transmitted and lead to the later development of cervical cancer. As a result of the widespread belief that Gardasil is safe and carries few serious side effects, the injection has been promoted for use among both young girls and boys before sexual activity, and is now recommended by most medical providers.

However, in recent years there has been growing evidence that some users are left with severe autoimmune disorders from Gardasil, including POTS, premature ovarian failure, premature menopause, idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP), chronic pain, brain fog, fatigue, headaches and nerve damage. Hundreds of former users are now pursuing Gardasil lawsuits against Merck, each raising similar allegations that the drug maker placed it’s desire for profits before consumer safety, by failing to disclose these potential side effects to the medical community.

In a new case report published last week by Preprints.org, researchers from Rocky Vista University, in Utah, described the experience of a woman who developed POTS just days after receiving a Gardasil vaccine in 2014, highlighting how the vaccine may trigger autoimmune or autonomic dysfunction, which previous research suggests could be triggered by the body’s response to a virus.

The 42-year-old woman had previously been diagnosed with Ehlers-Danos Syndrome (EDS), often referred to as hypermobility, the researchers noted. However, just days after receiving the Gardasil injection, she began suffering from symptoms of POTS, including syncope, a form of fainting, and tachycardia. She now reports experiencing up to 20 episodes of POTS symptoms per day, the researchers note.

“Adverse symptoms of POTS following the Gardasil 4 vaccine has had a severe impact on the patient’s daily life. The patient claimed she went from a very sociable person to an introvert,” the researchers report. “The patient fears having a POTS episode when she is alone. She also fears leaving home and having an episode away from home.”

Gardasil Side Effects Linked to POTS, EDS

The researchers note that numerous case studies and other scientific data points have already identified that Gardasil is activating POTS, particularly in young women. They point out that POTS often appears for the first time within days or weeks of getting a Gardasil injection.

Although the case report calls for additional research to make a concrete determination as to why these cases are developing, the researchers indicate that the circumstances of this case may show a strong association between Gardasil and POTS, due to the fact that the subject had EDS at the time.

Ehlers-Danos Syndrome Type III is a disorder that affects connective tissues. This can lead to hypermobility, dislocations occurring more frequently than normal, and, as the disease progresses, stiffness, disability and other adverse health problems.

The researchers note that patients with EDS should already be frequently checked for POTS, because it is believed that EDS patients are somehow predisposed to the disorder. About 80% of patients with EDS have POTS. However, in this case, the subject had been diagnosed with EDS four years earlier, but showed no signs of POTS, until four days after receiving the HPV vaccine.

One of the potentially initiating events of POTS is believed to be exposure to a virus, which a vaccine is designed to mimic, the researchers noted.

“The mechanisms linking the Gardasil vaccination to POTS are not well understood but may involve autoimmune or autonomic dysfunction triggered by the vaccine,” the researchers concluded. “Further research is warranted to elucidate the potential association between POTS and the Gardasil vaccination, given the potential impact on the lives of young vaccine recipients.”

The researchers particularly cautioned health care providers treating EDS patients to be aware about the potential link between side effects of Gardasil and POTS, which lawsuits allege is not adequately described in the vaccine warning information provided to medical providers.

April 2024 Gardasil Lawsuits Update

Given common questions of fact and law presented in more than 200 Gardasil injection lawsuits now being pursued against Merck nationwide, the litigation has been centralized for pretrial proceedings in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of North Carolina, where the parties are currently working to prepare a group of Gardasil cases for trial.

However, injury lawyers are continuing to investigate and file new lawsuits for individuals who experienced a variety of complications from the HPV vaccine, including:

• Autoimmune Diseases
• POTS (Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome)
• Premature Ovarian Failure
• Premature Menopause
• Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS)
• Idiopathic Thrombocytopenic Purpura (ITP)
• Irregular Heartbeat/Tachycardia
• Lupus
• Neurologic Disorder
• Brain Fog or Chronic Inability to Concentrate
• Chronic Fatigue
• Chronic Pain
• Severe Headaches
• Difficulty Sleeping
• Fibromyalgia
• Nerve Damage
• Menstrual Disorders/Problems
• Gastrointestinal Issues (food intolerances, nausea, vomiting)

Following coordinated discovery and any bellwether trials in the federal litigation, if the parties fail to reach Gardasil settlements or another resolution for the litigation, Judge Conrad may later establish a process to begin remanding each individual claim back to U.S. District Courts nationwide for individual trial dates in the future.