International Meeting for Autism Research (London, May 15-17, 2008): EVALUATION OF FAMILIAL CLUSTERING OF AUTOIMMUNE DISORDERS IN CHILDREN WITH AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDERS

Friday, May 16, 2008

Champagne Terrace/Bordeaux (Novotel London West)

9:30 AM

A. E. Porter , Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX

R. P. Goin-Kochel , Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX

S. U. Peters , Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX

D. E. Treadwell-Deering , Menninger Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences and Department of Pediatrics, Texas Children's Hosptial, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX

S. Wiley , Training and Technical Assistant Center, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA

Background: Several research groups have suggested immunological involvement and/or a family history of autoimmune disorders (AI) as placing children at risk for the development of ASD. Additionally, limited evidence suggests that the nature of ASD onset (i.e., congenital vs. regressive) may be associated with family history of AI.

Objectives: To determine whether a positive family history of AI is related to type of ASD onset and/or a history of developmental regression in affected children.

Methods: Participants were 68 families from an eligible study population of 101 families affiliated with the Virginia Commonwealth University Autism Center Registry. Parents were mailed a questionnaire that asked about their child's development of ASD and his/her family history of AI. Analyses included χ² tests to determine differences among select groups and logistic regressions to determine odds ratios.

Results: To date, 68 participants with a reported diagnosis of strict autism (76%), Asperger’s syndrome (7%) or PDD-NOS (16%) have been included in analyses. Average ages at the time of the questionnaire and ASD diagnosis were 10.3 years and 36 months, respectively; most focal children were male (69%). Those with a diagnosis of strict autism were 4.4 times more likely to have a history of regression than children with a diagnosis of Asperger’s syndrome or PDD-NOS. Children with autism and no second-degree relatives with AI were more likely (OR=5.9) to report a history of developmental regression than children who had any second-degree relatives with a history of AI. The presence of one or more cases of AI in any relation was not significantly associated with onset of ASD or history of regression.

Conclusions: Findings do not currently indicate an association between family history of AI and symptom onset in children with ASD, although this could result from small sample size. Data collection is ongoing at Texas Children’s Hospital.

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