Gastrointestinal problems are not limited to autistic children. My sister was born two months premature in the early 1960s, and she started with terrible problems. Turns out she was also born lactose intolerant (there is a genetic component, my daughter developed lactose intolerance as a teenager). Fortunately it was discovered fairly early on (this was the era of cloth diapers!), and she grew up perfectly normal as the one kid in any group who was not allowed to drink milk or eat cheese. She is a mom to a normal high school aged son, who is also lactose intolerant.

Why would it matter if the measles in the gut was from getting measles, the single measles vaccine or the MMR vaccine? And if it is the MMR, why not start in the 1970s when it was being used in the USA and other countries?

Especially when it was not there, the PCR results were false positives — when Wakefield was told this he still went with the false data. You can read about in the this testimony (it is in the first dozen pages):
ftp://autism.uscfc.uscourts.gov/autism/transcripts/day10.pdf

Here it is (from a transcription on the LeftBrainRightBrain blog):

Q Okay. Did you personally test the gut biopsy samples for measles RNA?
A Yes.

Q What tests did you perform?
A A PCR test, a polymerase chain reaction.

Q What results did you receive from the gut biopsy materials for measles RNA?
A They were all negative.

Q They were always negative?
A Yes. There were a few cases of false positive results, which I used a method to see whether they were real positive results or false positive, and in every case they turned out to be false positive results. Essentially all the samples tested were negative.

…….

Q So you personally tested while you were in Dr. Wakefield’s lab gut biopsy material, CSF and PBMCs?
A Yes, that’s right.

Q And all the results were either negative, or if they were positive it always turned out that they were false positives?
A Yes, that’s correct.

Q Did you inform Dr. Wakefield of the negative results?
A Yes. Yes.

“I just wondered where they got the idea of MMR/bowel link.“ No, I do not believe that there were reports of children who had contracted measles in the 1950s (or in any other time period)presenting GI disorder symptomology. Rather, reports of profound GI distress (by their parents) in children with autism began surfacing in the ‘80s and ‘90s. This does NOT mean there is a causal relationship between the MMR jab and colitis in some children (I doubt it). It may just mean that GI disorders (e.g., colitis, lymphoid nodular hyperplasia) are a symptom of ASD in some children (or not). This is being investigated right now. Time will tell.

There does not appear to be. Mady Hornig, for instance, recently tried to replicate Andrew Wakefield’s study and found no evidence. The studies that reynaud 5 listed are pretty much all crap, but I don’t have time to march through each and every one now. The dude needs to learn how to put line breaks in his list of references, too.”

Thanks. I just wondered where they got the idea of MMR/bowel link, if kids who had measles in the ’50s had those symptoms or something.

Sorry for posting the citiations as I did. I posted them as I found them.

Could every one of the individuals who conducted all of the studies cited above be “crap” medical professionals (MPH, PhD, & MDs)? I ask that sincerely. The probability that every single one of those studies is invalid and that they are all “crap” seems unlikely.

Chris, Thank You for providing the link to Ben Goldacre’s blog and the reference to his book Bad Science, and Mady Hornig’s paper. That is very helpful. I will dive into those next.

“And, you need to look at ALL of the research….” Of course. Of course. We all do. The tenets of medicine, and standards of care, are always evolving.

Is there any association between measles itself and bowel disease?

There does not appear to be. Mady Hornig, for instance, recently tried to replicate Andrew Wakefield’s study and found no evidence. The studies that reynaud 5 listed are pretty much all crap, but I don’t have time to march through each and every one now. The dude needs to learn how to put line breaks in his list of references, too.

BTW, stay tuned. Monday’s post is about the GMC’s ruling on Andrew Wakefield.

In case you missed it here’s a nice explanation of evidence (or manipulation thereof) for ‘autistic enterocolitis’ as described by Wakefield:

http://scienceblogs.com/insolence/2007/06/the_autism_omnibus_the_difference_betwee.php

Also, you need to look at all of the research, not just the ones you agree with. You might look at Mady Hornig’s paper Lack of Association between Measles Virus Vaccine and Autism with Enteropathy: A Case-Control Study. Which is indexed on PubMed, and actually free to read at the Public Library of Science.

Balzola, F., et al., Panenteric IBD-like disease in a patient with regressive autism shown for the first time by wireless capsule enteroscopy: Another piece in the jig-saw of the gut-brain syndrome? American Journal of Gastroenterology, 2005. 100(4): p. 979-981.
…. no abstract, looks like a case report in a letter

Galiatsatos, P., et al., Autistic enterocolitis: Fact or fiction. Canadian Journal of Gastroenterology. 2009;23:95-98
… two case reports…

Gonzalez, L., et al., Endoscopic and Histological Characteristics of the Digestive Mucosa in Autistic
Children with gastro-Intestinal Symptoms. Arch Venez Pueric Pediatr, 2005;69:19-25.
…. not found on PubMed…

Krigsman, A. et al., Clinical presentation and Histologic Findings at Ileocolonoscopy in Children with Autistic spectrum Disorder and Chronic Gastrointestinal symptoms. Autism Insights 2010:2 1-11.
…… I know this will not be indexed at PubMed because it is published in a non-peer reviewed journal created just to publish papers favorable to Wakefield. This is the missing but often vaulted research from Krigsman, spoken often in the MMR Hoax chapter of Ben Goldacre’s book Bad Science (you can download that chapter on his blog, I linked to it in a comment I made an hour ago, but it seems to have not made been posted).

In addition:

Horvath K., et al., High prevalence of gastrointestinal
symptoms in children with autistic spectrum disorder (ASD). J
Pediatr Gastroenterol Nutr 2000, 31:S174. And Melmed, R., et
al., Metabolic markers and gastrointestinal symptoms in children
with autism and related disorders. J Pediatr Gastroenterol Nutr
2000, 31:S31–S32. And Horvath, K. and Perman, J., Autistic
disorder and gastrointestinal disease. Current Opinion in
Pediatrics 2002, 14:583–587. And Furlano, R., et al., Quantitative
immunohistochemistry shows colonic epithelial pathology
and γδ-T cell infiltration in autistic enterocolitis. J Pediatrics
2001;138:366-372. And Torrente, F., et al., Enteropathy with T
cell infiltration and epithelial IgG deposition in autism. Molecular
Psychiatry. 2002;7:375-382. And Torrente, F. et al., Focalenhanced
gastritis in regressive autism with features distinct from
Crohn’s and helicobacter pylori gastritis. Am. J. Gastroenterol.
2004;4:598-605. And Ashwood, P. et al., Intestinal lymphocyte
populations in children with regressive autism: Evidence
for extensive mucosal immunopathology. J. Clin. Immunol.
2003;23:504-517. And Ashwood. P., et al., Spontaneous mucosal
lymphocyte cytokine profiles in children with regressive autism
and gastrointestinal symptoms: Mucosal immune activation and
reduced counter regulatory interleukin-10. Journal of Clinical
Immunology. 2004:24:664-673. And Wakefield, A., Enterocolonic
encephalopathy, autism and opioid receptor ligands.
Alimentary Pharmacology & Therapeutics. 2002;16:663-674.
And Uhlmann, V., et al., Potential viral pathogenic mechanism
for new variant inflammatory bowel disease. Molecular Pathology
2002;55:84-90. And Sabra. A., et al., Ileal-lymphoid-nodular
hyperplasia, non-specific colitis and pervasive developmental
disorder in children. The Lancet, 1998;352:234-235. And Sabra,
A., et al., Linkage of ileal-lymphoid-nodular hyperplasia (ILNH),
food allergy and CNS developmental: evidence for a non-IgE
association. Ann Allergy Asthma Immunol, 1999;82:8. And
Valicenti-McDermott M., et al., Frequency of gastrointestinal
symptoms in children with autistic spectrum disorders and
association with family history of autoimmune disease.
Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics. 2006;27:128-136.
And Richler, J., Luyster, R., Risi, S., Hsu, Wan-Ling, Dawson, G.,
Bernier, R., et al., Is there a ‘regressive phenotype’ of autistic
spectrum disorder associated with the measles-mumps-rubella
vaccine? A CPEA study. Autism Dev. Dis. 2006, 36:299-316. And
Sandler, R., Short-term benefit from oral vancomycin treatment
of regressive-onset autism. J. Child Neurol. 2000;15:429-435.
And Parracho, H., Differences between the gut flora of children
with autistic spectrum disorders and that of healthy children.
Journal of Medical Microbiology. 2005;54:987-991.

—I do NOT believe that the MMR vaccine causes Autism (because there is zero compelling evidence that it does). And there certainly is no data that indicates a causal relationship. The etiology of Autism is undoubtedly complex. But, is it possible that the MMR can cause, or contribute to the cause of, the development of gastrointestinal disorder, injury, or impairment within a small subset of the pediatric population? It seems it is possible. Given the preliminary findings of the investigations cited above, it seems reasonable that more biological-based studies are called for.—

Respectfully,

For a good indepth analysis of the MMR/Autism hoax, reynaud 5, head over to Ben Goldacre’s blog, especially the one with a link to the MMR chapter in his excellent book Bad Science.

But, that’s just it. It seems the key finding (chronic colitis found in ASD children) that Dr. Wakefield reported in his “early case report” published in The Lancet (in 1998) HAS been replicated by other medical researchers. (Interestingly, investigations are taking place in multiple other countries: Italy, Canada, USA, and Venezuela.) As I read these papers, I find them hard to entirely dismiss.

Balzola, F., et al., Autistic enterocolitis: Confrmation of a new infammatory bowel disease in an Italian cohort of patients. Gastroenterology 2005;128(Suppl. 2);A-303.

Balzola, F., et al., Panenteric IBD-like disease in a patient with regressive autism shown for the first time by wireless capsule enteroscopy: Another piece in the jig-saw of the gut-brain syndrome? American Journal of Gastroenterology, 2005. 100(4): p. 979-981.

Galiatsatos, P., et al., Autistic enterocolitis: Fact or fiction. Canadian Journal of Gastroenterology. 2009;23:95-98.

Gonzalez, L., et al., Endoscopic and Histological Characteristics of the Digestive Mucosa in Autistic
Children with gastro-Intestinal Symptoms. Arch Venez Pueric Pediatr, 2005;69:19-25.

Krigsman, A. et al., Clinical presentation and Histologic Findings at Ileocolonoscopy in Children with Autistic spectrum Disorder and Chronic Gastrointestinal symptoms. Autism Insights 2010:2 1-11.

Respectfully,

(Dr. Hall, BTW, my late father was a family practice MD for over 40 years, University of Illinois. Thank you for your service to families and in the Air Force).

I can’t give the citations, but it’s my understanding that subsequent research showed no association between autism and bowel disease or MMR and bowel disease.

If you want the whole story, read Paul Offit’s book “Autism’s False Prophets.”

I apologize for the misspelling of your name!

Disclosure: I am a parent of two children. I work in the medical profession at the graduate level (but I am not an MD). Yes, I did vaccinate my children. No, my children do not have any ASD.

I am not an advocate of MANY of the methods that Andrew Wakefield utilized to execute his case report published in The Lancet in 1998 (who could be?). Much of his conduct was/is -astonishingly- inappropriate. You have rightfully called him to the mat for his conduct. Yet, I wonder if the underlying finding of his case report (colitis in ASD children) will ultimately be replicated, and demonstrated to be accurate? [Your comment please!]

In addition, lost in the media circus that erupted around Wakefield’s “early report” of only 12 (!) children is the apparent fact that the 1998 case report by Dr. Wakefield, Professor Walker-Smith and Professor Murch (et al.) published in The Lancet did not state that the MMR vaccine causes autism.

The Lancet case report reads, quote, “We did not prove an association between measles, mumps, and rubella vaccine and the syndrome (autistic enterocolitis) described.” The Lancet case report ends with a call for additional research. [Which I believe is appropriate.] “We have identified a chronic enterocolitis in children that may be related to neuropsychiatric dysfunction. In most cases, onset of symptoms was after measles, mumps, and rubella immunisation. Further investigations are needed to examine this syndrome and its possible relation to this vaccine.”

I ask, if the case report by Wakefield, Walker-Smith, and Murch published in The Lancet did not say MMR vaccine causes autism, what did some of the co-authors partially retract in 2004?

It seems nothing. Some of the original co-authors partially retracted an interpretation despite the fact that it never existed in the case report. The co-author’s partial retraction reads, “We wish to make it clear that in this paper no causal link was established between MMR vaccine and autism as the data were insufficient. However, the possibility of such a link was raised and consequent events have had major implications for public health. In view of this, we consider now is the appropriate time that we should together formally retract the interpretation placed upon these findings in the paper, according to precedent.”

In sum, 11 of 13 authors issued a retraction of the interpretation that MMR is a possible trigger for syndrome described. This remains a possibility and a possibility cannot be retracted. [Your comment, please.]

Dr. Korski, this is my current viewpoint. I support a robust universal vaccination policy. Anything less is recklessly irresponsible. And, of course there are no data indicating a causal relationship between the MMR vaccine and autism, or for that matter, any vaccine and autism. But, I am an advocate for a vigorous, proactive, vaccine safety policy (I think pulling Thimerisal out of pediatric vaccines was a prudent and wise action in concert with the Precautionary Pricipal and the Hippocratic Oath). Do I believe personally that there could not be any kind of relationship between any vaccine component and any kind of neurological disorder, injury, or impairment? I don’t know. I submit that no one knows. Not now. I submit that there is a lot to learn in the 21st century about the etiology of Autism.

With considerable exposure to ASD due to my work, I have come to believe that Autism is a complex disorder affecting the neurological and immunological systems of children (and in some ASD children, profoundly, the gastrointestinal system); and that the etiology of Autism is most probably complex. Of course, “genetics” plays a profound role in the etiology of Autism, as it does in many disorders and disease. But I do not believe that it is accurate to say that genetics “causes” autism. In terms of “the cause” of Autism, I believe it is highly probable that there are multiple causes (variables), and I believe that genetics and environment are interacting in complex ways. As some epidemiologists have remarked, “Genetics loads the gun. Environment pulls the trigger.” With regard to Autism, could it be an environmental insult -or quite possibly a combination of environmental insults- that trigger the development of ASD in a subset of the pediatric population? If so, who should we consider the leading suspects? Organophosphate herbicides, heavy metals, ubiquitous industrial pollutants/toxins, novel viral pathogens, ingested mercury from food sources (tuna, etc.), mercury from coal-fired power plants, injected mercury from prenatal RhoGAM or flu shots, injected aluminum from vaccines, increased antibiotic use? A combination of several? Could there be a neurological/immunological insult as an outcome of synergistic effect and/or cumulative exposure and load?

I find it hard to entirely dismiss the concern of several compelling individuals (all pro-vaccine of course). Bernadine Healy, MD (Harvard, former head of NIH); Jon Poling MD, PhD (Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, Johns Hopkins); Irva Hertz-Picciotto PhD, MPH (UC Davis MIND institute); and Thomas Insel MD (Director of the National Institute of Mental Health and Chair of the federal government’s Interagency Autism Coordinating Committee (IACC), tasked with recommending funding priorities for autism research and services). All have recently stated that they suspect that the etiology of autism most probably involves an environmental
component or trigger. All have stated we should keep an open mind and not stifle biological investigations into the etiology of Autism.

What do you think? I sincerely await your comment and insight with appreciation.

Alas! None of the media was interested in those, because apparently… wait for it… there was just information, not enough entertainment, in the pro-vaccination stories!

It seems to me that this blows all the pious assertions that they’re just providing “balance” out of the water.