Authors: Tomljenovic, L.; A. Shaw, C.

Source: Current Medicinal Chemistry, Volume 18, Number 17, June 2011 , pp. 2630-2637(8)

Publisher: Bentham Science Publishers

Abstract:

Aluminum is an experimentally demonstrated neurotoxin and the most commonly used vaccine adjuvant. Despite almost 90 years of widespread use of aluminum adjuvants, medical science's understanding about their mechanisms of action is still remarkably poor. There is also a concerning scarcity of data on toxicology and pharmacokinetics of these compounds. In spite of this, the notion that aluminum in vaccines is safe appears to be widely accepted. Experimental research, however, clearly shows that aluminum adjuvants have a potential to induce serious immunological disorders in humans. In particular, aluminum in adjuvant form carries a risk for autoimmunity, long-term brain inflammation and associated neurological complications and may thus have profound and widespread adverse health consequences. In our opinion, the possibility that vaccine benefits may have been overrated and the risk of potential adverse effects underestimated, has not been rigorously evaluated in the medical and scientific community. We hope that the present paper will provide a framework for a much needed and long overdue assessment of this highly contentious medical issue.

Keywords: Aluminum adjuvants; adjuvant safety; autoimmunity; autism; Gulf War Syndrome; multiple sclerosis; macrophagic myofasciitis; neurotoxicity; seizures; Th2 immune response; vaccines

Document Type: Research article

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.2174/092986711795933740

Publication date: 2011-06-01

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• Current Medicinal Chemistry covers all the latest and outstanding developments in medicinal chemistry and rational drug design. Each issue contains a series of timely in-depth reviews written by leaders in the field covering a range of the current topics in medicinal chemistry. Current Medicinal Chemistry is an essential journal for every medicinal chemist who wishes to be kept informed and up-to-date with the latest and most important developments.

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