http://bmj.com/cgi/content/full/323/7305/163?view=full&pmid=11463692
MMR cannot be exonerated without
explaining increased incidence of autism
Kaye et al observe that the rise in the
incidence of autism cannot be attributed to measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR)
vaccine because vaccination remained consistently above 90% in the
period studied.1
I have several issues with their study:
(1) The cohort of children chosen was born during 1988-93. MMR was
introduced in the United Kingdom in 1988 and an uptake of
90-95% is unlikely to have been achieved from the first year.
(2) Kaye et al effectively excluded children born before 1988 who may
have been vaccinated in or after 1988.
(3) The 114 boys selected were observed until the age of
71 months. Many of them could have succumbed after the second MMR vaccination
(booster), which is given between the ages of 4 and 5 years.
The study did not mention how many children received two MMR vaccinations.
(4) MMR vaccine was previously given alone at 15 months or later. Then
the age was lowered to 12-14 months and other vaccines were
administered concomitantly, increasing the immune antigenic insult
at a younger more susceptible age and effectively increasing the
incidence of autism.
(5) The restriction of the cases in the main analysis to 114 boys is of
concern. A breakdown of the 290 children in the 1990-9 birth
cohorts by sex and year of birth would have been informative. A
larger proportion of girls among the 176 cases excluded might have
been relevant to the completeness of the autism figures.
(6) The fact that neither DSM-IV nor IC-10 was systematically used in the
United Kingdom creates further doubts about the significance of the
findings.
Professor Brent Taylor in the Lancet (1999;353:2026-9) and now Kaye
et al have clearly documented the epidemic of autism in the United
Kingdom. Before 1988 the incidence of autism was 1 in
10 000; after 1988the year MMR was introducedit leapt to 8 in 10 000.
By 1993 it was 29 in 10 000.
Kaye et al cannot exonerate MMR without offering a reasonable explanation
for the increase.
Until safety studies on MMR are independent of drug companies and are large
scale and comprehensive, and until researchers review with parents
the documented adverse reactions of bowel disease and autism, the
triple jab remains suspect.
F Edward Yazbak
TL Autism Research, 70 Viewcrest Drive, Falmouth, MA 02540, USA
|
1. |
Kaye JA, del Mar Melero-Montes M. Mumps, measles, and
rubella vaccine and the incidence of autism recorded by general
practitioners: a time trend analysis. BMJ 2001; 322: 460-463 |
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