study of the effect of immunological changes and diet elimination in autistic children with gastrointestinal tract [GIT] symptoms in an Arabic culture

ABSTRACT

Correlation of the severity of autistic criteria with specific immunoglobulins [IgG and IgA] for casein and gluten and the past history of prominent GIT symptoms, and to show the effect of casein and gluten diet elimination in the improvement of autistic criteria. 42 autistic children were subjected to C.A.R.S. initial assessment, laboratory investigations to detect immunological reactions toward casein and gluten, diet elimination for 6 months, re-assessment with The Childhood Autism Rating Scale [C.A.R.S.] after 3 and 6 months of diet elimination. 64.3% of the sample of autistic children had past history of GIT symptoms. 85.7% of autistic children had positive scores to IgG casein and 50% with positive scores of IgA gluten. 21.4% of autistic children had positive scores in IgA casein and 19% with positive scores of IgA gluten. Diet elimination was effective with significant difference in autistic children who were suffering from prominent past history of colic. Casein elimination alone or in combination with gluten was effective in improvement in autistic symptoms. Immunological changes, history of GIT symptoms may act as contributing factors to autistic spectrum disorder and diet elimination is effective in improvement of autistic symptoms