CRANFORD, N.J., Nov. 6 /PRNewswire/ -- The newly released study on autism
and the measles-mumps-rubella vaccine ("A Population Based Study of Measles,
Mumps and Rubella Vaccination and Autism." New England Journal of Medicine,
Vol 347, No 19; Nov 7, 2002: 1477-1483, by Kreesten Meldgaard, et al) is a
welcome addition to autism epidemiology.  Unfortunately, the study conclusions
appear overreaching, claiming that this analysis is the final word on autism
and vaccines and implying that more research on the topic is unnecessary.
Safe Minds asserts that other vaccines besides MMR may be involved in autism,
and that only biological research, not epidemiology, can answer the question
of whether the MMR vaccine plays a role in autism.
    "It is important to note that the study only focused on the MMR vaccine,
and not vaccines also implicated in autism which contain the mercury
preservative thimerosal," explains Sallie Bernard, executive director of Safe
Minds.  "The study also failed to investigate whether the MMR vaccine might be
interacting with the thimerosal from other vaccines to increase the severity
of symptoms in children who already have autism.  Finally, the study did not
differentiate between regressive autism, which is the type being linked to MMR
vaccine, and the more prevalent early onset autism, which is the type being
linked to thimerosal."
    Safe Minds is an advocacy organization that focuses on the role of mercury
in neurodevelopmental disorders, including autism.  It was founded by parents
of autistic children.  Thimerosal contains 50% ethylmercury and has been used
in most recommended childhood vaccines, including the
Diphtheria-Tetanus-Pertussis (DTP), Haemophilus influenzae type B (HiB), and
Hepatitis B (Hep B) vaccines.
    Research studies have shown that mercury exposure in utero or during early
postnatal life -- the time when thimerosal vaccines are being given -- can
cause immune system abnormalities that predispose the child to ongoing viral
infections.  It is biologically plausible that this immune disruption may have
allowed the live measles virus component in the MMR vaccine to persist in
susceptible autistic children, making the symptoms of the disorder worse.
This connection would not be detected through an epidemiology study like the
Denmark one.  Nor does the Denmark study have the power to detect differences
in rates of regressive autism between vaccinated and unvaccinated children,
since the number of regressive cases -- estimated to be 10%-20% of all autism
cases -- would be too small.
    "The overreaching conclusion of the study should not obscure other
important findings from this extensive and well planned analysis from
Denmark," continued Ms. Bernard.  "The authors report an increased prevalence
of autism in that country, and thus it supports other recent studies that are
also showing increases.  This rise tells us that an environmental agent is at
work worldwide that is driving this trend.  We believe that thimerosal and
environmental mercury -- which are worldwide pollutants -- are behind the
surge.  Also, Denmark has had lower and later exposures to thimerosal in
vaccines, and the report shows that their rate of autism is lower than in the
US, which is also consistent with a thimerosal connection."
    Safe Minds is encouraged that the Centers for Disease Control sponsored
such an extensive study on autism, which shows that this terrible disease is
finally getting the attention of public health officials.  Safe Minds looks
forward to increased support for autism research, especially at the biological
level.

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