Abstract
BackgroundThe pathophysiological etiologies related with the development of Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) remain controversial. Different authors have studied neurotoxins such as mercury (Hg) and their relationship with ADS. The objective of this study was to assess the levels of Hg in hair in a group of ASD children (chronic exposure) and in urinary excretion (acute exposure), in comparison to a healthy group.MethodsA case-control study was conducted in Spanish children. We compared 54 ASD children (aged 2–6) with no other associated pathology to a normally-developing control group (54 subjects).ResultsThere were no differences in urine (p:0.631) and hair (p:1.000) samples percentages below the limits of detection between the control and the ASD groups, and also between patients in the regression ASD subgroup (AMR) (p:0.08) and the non-regression ASD subgroup (ANMR) (p:0.705). When the analysis was adjusted for age and sex, the differences between Hg levels maintained not significant. There were no correlations between Hg concentrations in the ASD group as a whole (p: 0.739), or when they were subdivided into ASD-AMR (p: 0.739) and ASD-ANMR (p: 0.363).ConclusionsThe present study shows no evidence in our geographical area to support an association between mercury neurotoxicity and the etiopathogenesis of ASD.
Highlights
The pathophysiological etiologies related with the development of Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) remain controversial
Children with ASD were selected to assess Hg concentrations in hair and urine samples, and to investigate a possible relationship with ASD core symptoms and other developmental parameters.Hg levels in children with ASD were compared to Hg levels in a control group of normally-developing children living in the same urban area of Córdoba (Spain), with families in a similar economic and social situation with similar environmental exposure that the ASD group
All the ASD children in the study exceeded the cut-off points for the diagnosis of ASD on the ADOS-2 test. Neither they nor their mothers had been subjected to any known toxic exposure.Two ASD boy could not be classified because he had come from national adoption at 20 months
Summary
The pathophysiological etiologies related with the development of Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) remain controversial. Its presence in the Children are more susceptible than adults to environmental contaminants They possess immature detoxification mechanisms and their heightened vulnerability is related to greater surface area relative to mass, nutritional aspects (children drink and eat more per unit of body weight) and behavioral patterns (mouth-touching behaviors) [2, 3]. All these hypotheses suggest the possibility of defects in the processes of metabolizing and eliminating heavy metals in children with ASD, contributing to the development of symptoms
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