Tag Archives: autism spectrum disorder

Is It a ‘Waste’ to Do Colonic Manometry in Kids with Autism?

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A Coe et al. JPGN 2023; 76: 154-159. Evaluation of Chronic Constipation in Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder

In this retrospective study with 56 patients with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and 123 controls underwent colonic manometry (CM). Key findings:

  • The rate of abnormal CM findings between ASD and matched controls (24% vs 20%, P = 0.78) did not differ significantly
  • The authors noted that higher rates of abnormal CM with duration of constipation and with soiling in children with ASD. However, “even in the minority of cases with abnormal colonic motility, chronic stool retention due to functional constipation over time likely caused impaired motility in the majority of these cases. In 6 of the 8 ASD cases with abnormal CM finding, impaired motility was isolated to the distal colon while normal motility occurred in the proximal colon.”

My take: In this highly-selected group of patients with ASD from specialized motility centers, only 2 had abnormal colonic motility affecting the entire colon. Overall, patients with ASD did NOT have higher rates of abnormal CM studies. Hence, for most children with ASD, CM has little value.

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Briefly noted: Autism Spectrum Prevalence

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A recent study (G Xu et al. JAMA Pediatr 2019; 173: 153-9) uses a nationwide, population-based, cross-sectional survey to provided updated estimates of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) prevalence. The authors include more than 43,000 children (3-17 yrs).

Key findings:

  • The weighted prevalence of ever-diagnosed and current ASD was 2.79% and 2.50% respectively
  • State-level prevalence varied considerably with ever-diagnosed ASD of 1.54% in Texas to 4.88% in Florida.
  • 29.5% of those with current ASD did not receive either behavioral or medication treatment.

My take: This study documents the high rates of ASD in the pediatric population and shows that many are not receiving potentially beneficial treatment.

Also, in the same issue, there are three unrelated commentaries regarding vaccine policy (thanks to Ben Gold for these references):

  • New York City Childcare Influenza Mandate (YT Yang, J Colgrove. JAMA Pediatr 2019; 173: 119-20)
  • Lessons from California’s Discipline of a Popular Physician for Vaccination Exemptions Without Medical Cause (RD Silverman, YT Yang. JAMA Pediatr 2019; 173: 121-2)
  • Requiring Human Papillomavirus Vaccination for School Entry  (MJ Bayefsky, LO Gastin. JAMA Pediatr 2019; 173: 123-4)

The first of these commentaries discusses the implications of NYC influenza 2013 mandate for infants/children 6 mo-59 months.  After implementation, there was an increase in vaccination rates by 11.4% which dropped back after a legal challenge. The second commentary discusses the California State Board’s discipline of a vaccine skeptic, Dr. ‘Bob’ Sears. The final commentary calls for mandating the HPV vaccine. (Related post: HPV Vaccine Eliminating Cervical Cancer)

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Little Evidence to Support Dietary Intervention in Autism Spectrum Disorders

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Thanks to Kipp Ellsworth Twitter feed for reference:  Nutritional and Dietary Interventions for Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Systematic Review N Sathe Pediatrics 2017; vol 139.

Abstract:

CONTEXT: Children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) frequently use special diets or receive nutritional supplements to treat ASD symptoms.

OBJECTIVES: Our objective was to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of dietary interventions or nutritional supplements in ASD.

DATA SOURCES: Databases, including Medline and PsycINFO.

STUDY SELECTION: Two investigators independently screened studies against predetermined criteria.

DATA EXTRACTION: One investigator extracted data with review by a second investigator. Investigators independently assessed the risk of bias and strength of evidence (SOE) (ie, confidence in the estimate of effects).

RESULTS: Nineteen randomized controlled trials (RCTs), 4 with a low risk of bias, evaluated supplements or variations of the gluten/casein-free diet and other dietary approaches. Populations, interventions, and outcomes varied. Ω-3 supplementation did not affect challenging behaviors and was associated with minimal harms (low SOE). Two RCTs of different digestive enzymes reported mixed effects on symptom severity (insufficient SOE). Studies of other supplements (methyl B12, levocarnitine) reported some improvements in symptom severity (insufficient SOE). Studies evaluating gluten/casein-free diets reported some parent-rated improvements in communication and challenging behaviors; however, data were inadequate to make conclusions about the body of evidence (insufficient SOE). Studies of gluten- or casein-containing challenge foods reported no effects on behavior or gastrointestinal symptoms with challenge foods (insufficient SOE); 1 RCT reported no effects of camel’s milk on ASD severity (insufficient SOE). Harms were disparate.

LIMITATIONS: Studies were small and short-term, and there were few fully categorized populations or concomitant interventions.

CONCLUSIONS: There is little evidence to support the use of nutritional supplements or dietary therapies for children with ASD.

Related blog post: Gluten-free, Casein-free -No improvement in Autism

Bayeux, France

Autism Drugs: Fat and Happy?

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“The reason fat people are happy is that their nerves are well protected.”
– Luciano Pavarotti

It is not uncommon to see kids with behavioral problems that are also obese.  Many times, medications which help improve behavioral problems may contribute to obesity by increasing appetite.

A recent study (K Shedlock et al. J Pediatr 2016; 178: 183-7) provides some insight into this issue. In this retrospective study, using the Military Health System database (2000-2013) with 48,762 individuals with autism spectrum disorder and with 243,810 matched controls, children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) had significantly higher rates of obesity with OR 1.85 along with obesity-related conditions.  These conditions include type 2 diabetes, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, and NAFLD/NASH.

Key points:

  • In children with ASD, mood stabilizers, antipsychotics, antiepileptic drugs, and selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) were associated with obesity.  Mood stabilizers had the greatest risk in this study, with adjusted OR of 1.41; the other medications had fairly small risk with adjusted ORs between 1.13 to 1.16.
  • When kids with ASD develop complications like NAFLD/NASH or hyperlipidemia, they may be less likely to adhere with recommended lifestyle changes.  This can be due to sensory aversions and social deficits.

My take: Children with autism spectrum disorder are likely at increased risk for obesity at baseline; some of the medications to treat behavior problems may contribute to obesity, though they may be partly an epiphenomenon or a marker of a more severe autism spectrum disorder.

Portland Head Light

Portland Head Light

Is Intestinal Function in Children with Autism Different?

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There has been a lot of concern that abnormal GI function contributes to both behavioral and gastrointestinal symptoms in children with autism.  To categorize some of these problems, the term ‘leaky gut’ has been used.

An upcoming study (RI Kushak et al. JPGN DOI: 10.1097/MPG.0000000000001174) (thanks to Ben Gold for forwarding this reference) examines this issue. Using a case-control design, pediatric patients with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) (n=61) were compared with 50 children with normal development.

Workup:

  • Endoscopy (EGD and colonoscopy) with histologic analysis
  • Disaccharidase analysis
  • Intestinal permeability studies with lactulose and rhamnose
  • Fecal biomarkers: calprotectin and lactoferrin

According to the authors, all of the study subjects underwent endoscopy and “all had clinical indications for diagnostic endoscopy.”  Most common indications were parental reports of abdominal pain and diarrhea.

Key findings:

  • Disaccharidase activity levels were not significantly different between the groups. In agreement with prior studies, there was frequent lactase deficiency, with 66% of ASD children in this study with deficient enzyme activity (<15 μmol/min/g).  However, lactase activity in the children with ASD was not lower than the non-ASD children.
  • There were no significant differences in measures of intestinal permeability.  Normative values for lactulose and rhamnose ratio are not definitively established.  However, when using similar cutoff ratios, there were similar results in both groups.

Calprotectin:

  • Intestinal inflammatory markers (calprotectin/lactoferrin) were not significantly different, after the authors excluded the five “neurotypical” children who were diagnosed with inflammatory bowel disease.
  • For calprotectin, the authors considered a level <50 mcg/g to be normal.  In the ASD group, 31of 49 (63%) had abnormal calprotectin compared with 19 of 31 (61%) in the non-ASD group.
  • For calprotectin levels >150 mcg/g, 9 of 49 (18%) reached this level in the ASD group and 8 of 31 (26%) in the non-ASD group.

Histology:

  • Similar levels of GI tract inflammation were noted in both groups –generally mild.
  • In the ASD group, 32 (52%) had inflammation somewhere in their GI tract, “but it was generally mild and non-diagnostic.”  In the ASD group, five had features consistent with GERD, two had eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE).  There were 12 (19%) who had colonic inflammation and 3 (5%) with ileal inflammation.  None had celiac disease or H pylori.
  • In the non-ASD group, four had EoE, four (8%) had ileal inflammation, and nine (18%) had colonic inflammation.  The authors noted Crohn’s disease in three and a total of five children with IBD.

My take:

  1. This study suggests that symptomatic children with autism have similar (and probably not worse) GI problems as neurotypical children.  The idea that children with autism have a more leaky gut than children without autism is quite dubious based on these results.
  2. The biggest problem for GI physicians is not addressed in this study and involves children with and without autism: appropriate selection for evaluation.  While the authors chose children with “clinical indications,” these, in fact, are often subjective and with permissive interpretation could be used to justify endoscopy in 40% of children.
  3. Another huge problem is interpretation of abnormal results.  While the authors report large numbers with intestinal inflammation in both groups, most of this was considered to be insignificant clinically.  How should trivial inflammation be reported in studies?  This problem is not unique to this study and makes it difficult to assess the value of endoscopy more broadly.

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Law Quad, Univ Michigan

Law Quad, Univ Michigan

 

“Too many vaccines and autism” is debunked

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Based on false science, many parents think that refusing or delaying vaccinations will be safer for their children and decrease the risk of autism.  While the scientific underpinnings for such a concept have no basis (Pediatrics 2004; 114: 793-804, and Institute of Medicine. Immunization safety review: vaccines and autism. Washington, DC: National Academies Press; 2004), lingering concerns persist.  Into this background, another rigorous study (J Pediatr 2013; 163: 561-7) has concluded that there is “no association between exposure to antigens from vaccines during infancy and the development of autism spectrum disorder (ASD),” autism, or ASD with regression.

So how did the authors reach this conclusion?

Using a case-control study from three managed care organizations (MCOs) of 256 children with ASD and 752 control children, the authors examined exposure to total antibody stimulating proteins and polysaccharides from vaccines.  They utilized vaccine registries and medical records.  The children in this study were born between 1994-1999 and were aged 6-13 years at the time of data collection.

The results showed that with each 25-unit increase in total antigen exposure, the adjusted odds ratio (aOR) for ASD was 0.999 for cumulative exposure to age 3 months. The aOR stayed the same at 7 months and 2 years.  When autism or autism with regression were examined, similarly there was no increased risk.

One of the strengths of this study was that members of these MCOs have routine immunizations as a covered benefit; this helps minimize socioeconomic factors which could influence results.  A small number of ASD cases (5%) and controls (2%) had an older sibling with autism; results were unchanged when these children were excluded.

In many ways, this finding is completely anticipated and in agreement with the Institute of Medicines most recent 2013 report on immunizations (The Childhood Immunization Schedule and Safety: Stakeholder …).  As the authors note in their discussion, “beginning at birth, an infant is exposed to hundreds of viruses and other antigens, and it has been estimated that an infant theoretically could respond to thousands of vaccines at once.”

Bottom-line: Vaccines prevent disease without causing autism.  Vaccine refusal increases the risk of disease for those who refuse and creates collateral damage as well.

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