Autism Insights has published a new editorial addressing the question,
They neglect to mention Tim Buie’s recent consensus report on gastrointestinal disorders and autism and autism published in Pediatrics. Nor, for that matter, do they refer to Arthur Krigsman’s study which they published last month. However, despite it being retracted by the Lancet, they manage to reference Wakefield’s discredited paper along with another of his studies twice.
10. Wakefield AJ, Murch SH, Anthony A, Linnell J, Casson DM, Malik M, et al. Ileal-lymphoid-nodular hyperplasia, non-specific colitis, and pervasive developmental disorder in children. Lancet. 1998;351:637–41.
11. Wakefield AJ, Anthony A, Murch SH, et al. Enterocolitis in children with developmental disorders. Am J Gastroenterol. 2000;95:2285–95.
12. Wakefield AJ, et al. Enterocolitis in children with developmental disorders. Am J Gastroenterol. 2000;95(9):2285–95.
13. Wakefield AJ, et al. Ileal-lymphoid-nodular hyperplasia, non-specific colitis, and pervasive developmental disorder in children. Lancet. 1998;351:637.
The authors present an analysis of the complete medical history records of the Autistic Genetic Resource Exchange (AGRE). They compare parental reports of Gastrointestinal disease in autistic subjects and their non-autistic siblings. The data is interesting, if inconclusive. The only significant differences were the greater frequency of constipation and diarrhoea in autistic subjects. But no reasons were offered as to why this might be the case.
The most striking feature was the complete absence of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). I was surprised that the authors did not pick up on this during the discussion as they highlighted the controversy surrounding IBD and autism in their introduction.
To return to the question, “Is there a relationship between autism and gastrointestinal disease?” the answer is we do not know. We are still waiting for some definitive data. On the evidence so far I do not expect to find it any time soon in Autism Insights.
Autism Insights has published a new editorial addressing the question,
They neglect to mention Tim Buie’s recent consensus report on gastrointestinal disorders and autism and autism published in Pediatrics. Nor, for that matter, do they refer to Arthur Krigsman’s study which they published last month. However, despite it being retracted by the Lancet, they manage to reference Wakefield’s discredited paper along with another of his studies twice.
10. Wakefield AJ, Murch SH, Anthony A, Linnell J, Casson DM, Malik M, et al. Ileal-lymphoid-nodular hyperplasia, non-specific colitis, and pervasive developmental disorder in children. Lancet. 1998;351:637–41.
11. Wakefield AJ, Anthony A, Murch SH, et al. Enterocolitis in children with developmental disorders. Am J Gastroenterol. 2000;95:2285–95.
12. Wakefield AJ, et al. Enterocolitis in children with developmental disorders. Am J Gastroenterol. 2000;95(9):2285–95.
13. Wakefield AJ, et al. Ileal-lymphoid-nodular hyperplasia, non-specific colitis, and pervasive developmental disorder in children. Lancet. 1998;351:637.
The authors present an analysis of the complete medical history records of the Autistic Genetic Resource Exchange (AGRE). They compare parental reports of Gastrointestinal disease in autistic subjects and their non-autistic siblings. The data is interesting, if inconclusive. The only significant differences were the greater frequency of constipation and diarrhoea in autistic subjects. But no reasons were offered as to why this might be the case.
The most striking feature was the complete absence of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). I was surprised that the authors did not pick up on this during the discussion as they highlighted the controversy surrounding IBD and autism in their introduction.
To return to the question, “Is there a relationship between autism and gastrointestinal disease?” the answer is we do not know. We are still waiting for some definitive data. On the evidence so far I do not expect to find it any time soon in Autism Insights.