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The research team, led by Dr Vijendra Singh, looked at samples
from 125 autistic children and 92 who did not have the disorder.
Part of the measles component of the vaccine caused an unusual
anti-measles response in 75 of the autistic children but not in the
normal ones.
More than 90% of the autistic samples which showed an immune
response to MMR were also positive for antibodies thought to be
involved in autism.
Reaction on the brain
These antibodies attack the brain by targeting the basic building
blocks of myelin, the insulating sheath that covers nerve fibres. Dr
Singh has suggested that this auto-immune response may be the root
cause of autism.
The US scientists, who report their findings in the latest issue
of the Journal of Biomedical Science, concluded: "Stemming from this
evidence, we suggest that an inappropriate antibody response to MMR,
specifically the measles component thereof, might be related to
pathogenesis of autism."
Dr Singh has published previous work indicating a link between
MMR and autism. He has argued for years that autism can be traced to
an auto-immune reaction centred on the brain.
'Plausible explanation'
David Potter of Britain's National Autistic Society said: "This
current research offers a plausible explanation of underlying
pathophysiology in some children with autism. Although the society
has yet to see the full paper, it welcomes such studies."
The new study will fuel the controversy over MMR, which has been
blamed for downturns in the number of children being vaccinated.
MMR vaccine uptake in the UK for 16 month-old children dropped
from 76.2% to 70.1% between December and March, before rising to 72%
in April.
Immunisation for 24-month-old children fell from 85.8% to 84.4%
over the same winter period and then increased to 85.9%. |
