New evidence suggesting a link between the MMR vaccine and autism has emerged from the United States.

Scientists at Utah State University in Logan found a strong association between the vaccine and an auto-immune reaction thought to play a role in autism.

The team led by Dr Vijendra Singh analysed blood samples from 125 autistic children and 92 children who did not have the developmental disorder.

The researchers found a "significant increase" in the level of MMR antibodies in the autistic children.

Part of the measles component of the vaccine caused an unusual anti-measles response in 75 of the autistic children, but not in the normal children.

More than 90% of the autistic samples which showed an immune response to MMR were also positive for antibodies thought to be involved in autism.

These antibodies attack the brain by targeting the basic building blocks of myelin, the insulating sheath that covers nerve fibres.

Dr Singh has suggested that this autoimmune response may be the root cause of autism.

The US scientists, who report their findings in the latest issue of the Journal of Biomedical Science, concluded: "Stemming from this evidence, we suggest that an inappropriate antibody response to MMR, specifically the measles component thereof, might be related to pathogenesis of autism."

Dr Singh has published previous work indicating a link between MMR and autism. He has argued for years that autism can be traced to an autoimmune reaction centred on the brain.

Story filed: 19:27 Thursday 8th August 2002

Source:- Original Paper by Vijendra K. Singh, Sheren X. Lin, Elizabeth Newell, Courtney Nelson
Department of Biology and Biotechnology Center,
Utah State University, Logan, Utah, USA
Abnormal Measles-Mumps-Rubella Antibodies and CNS Autoimmunity in Children with Autism