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Study linking autism to MMR
is published
By David Derbyshire, Science Correspondent
(Filed: 09/08/2002)
One of the scientists who believes that there may be a
connection between autism and the measles, mumps and rubella vaccine has
published new research suggesting a link.
Dr Vijendra Singh, of Utah State University, found that
many children with the developmental disorder had an "inappropriate
immune response" to the measles component of the vaccine.
Although Dr Singh has presented similar studies before,
the new research on 125 autistic children and 92 children without autism
appears in a peer-reviewed scientific journal.
The researchers found a "significant increase" in MMR
antibodies in the blood of autistic children. The measles component
caused an unusual antibody response in 60 per cent of the children with
autism, compared with none of the 92 children without the condition.
Dr Singh has argued that autism may be caused by an
autoimmune response in which antibodies target the basic building blocks
of myelin, the insulating sheath that covers nerve fibres. His latest
paper, in the Journal of Biomedical Science, does not prove that MMR
causes autism; autism may be responsible for the unusual response to the
MMR antibodies.
However, in the journal, Dr Singh and colleagues
report: "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."
MMR vaccine uptake for 16-month-old children fell from
76.2 to 70.1 per cent between December and March, but
rose to 72 per cent in April. Uptake for 24-month-old children fell
from 85.8 per cent to 84.4 per cent over the same winter period, then
rose to 85.9 per cent.
The Public Health Laboratory Service, Department of
Health and British Medical Association have all consistently said the
vaccine is safe.
But the pressure group Jabs (Justice, Awareness and
Basic Support), said the new research strengthened its case for the
suspension of MMR use.
Jonathan Harris, a spokesman, said: "We have said all
along that it affects only a certain subset of children, causing a new
type of autism in children whose immune systems have not really been
tested fully."
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