Study of measles iGg antibody levels and some immunological abnormalities in autistic children

ABSTRACT

Autism is generally considered to be a multi-factorial disorder. Causally speaking, immune, neuro-chemical, environmental such as viral infections mainly measles and genetic susceptibility factors have been implicated. Currently, the etiology of autism is still unknown, and although there are treatments for some of the behavioral abnormalities, there is no cure. Autoimmunity has a strong prospect for finding a cause and treatment of autism today. The aim of the present work was to study measles antibodies and some immunological parameters in autistic children in a trial to pave the way to new optimistic interventions both diagnostic and therapeutic. Thirty-nine children were included in this study allocated into 2 groups. Group I [autistic children] consisted of 19 children [17 males and 2 females], aged 2-7.75 years, diagnosed as autistic by CARS. Group II [control children] consisted of 20 healthy children [17 males and 3 females] aged 2-8 years. All children were subjected to detailed history and thorough clinical examination [to confirm diagnosis and exclude other neurodevelopmental illnesses]. Total serum protein, serum albumin, serum protein electrophoresis immunoglobulins and ANA were measured for all children. CD[4] and CD[8] subsets of T-lymphocytes were phenotyped by whole blood flow-cytometry to get CD[4]/CD[8] ratios. Measles IgG antibody levels were measured for all children by indirect enzyme-immunoassay. Autistic criteria were detected late [in the second year of age] among all our autistic children. Some autistic children [4 children] showed autistic regression after MMR vaccination. Family history of autism and other autoimmune diseases was found in a small number of our autistic families [2 and 4 respectively]. Autistic children had significantly higher TSP, serum albumin, gamma globulin, and IgG levels than control children, while their alpha1, alpha2 and beta globulins, IgA and IgM were not significantly different. About one third [36.84%] of our autistic children were positive for ANA with the mean of ANA titers significantly higher in the autistic children compared to controls. CD4+ lymphocytes were significantly reduced, while CD8+ lymphocytes were normal or slightly decreased, resulting in a significantly lowered CD4/CD8 ratio among our autistic children compared to normal controls. The mean serum levels of measles IgG antibodies were significantly higher among autistic children as compared to non autistic control children