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Measles, mumps, and rubella vaccination and bowel problems or developmental regression in children with autism:
Brent Taylor1, Elizabeth Miller, Raghu Lingam
1Centre for Community Child Health, Royal Free and University College Medical School, University College London Royal Free Campus, London. b.taylor@rfc.ucl.ac.uk
Insights
This study found no evidence that the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine is linked to bowel problems or developmental regression in children with autism. The findings do not support a "new variant" autism associated with MMR vaccination.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Neurology
- Immunology
- Developmental Psychology
Background:
- Concerns exist regarding a potential link between the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine and the development of autism spectrum disorder (ASD).
- Specific hypotheses suggest the MMR vaccine may trigger a
- new variant
- form of autism characterized by bowel problems and developmental regression.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between MMR vaccination and bowel problems and developmental regression in children diagnosed with autism.
- To examine evidence for a potential
- new variant
- autism linked to MMR vaccination.
Main Methods:
- A population-based study involving a review of case notes.
- Independent data linkage of recorded vaccine information with child health records.
- Inclusion of 278 children with core autism and 195 with atypical autism, born between 1979 and 1998, across five health districts in London.
Main Results:
- No statistically significant change in the proportion of children experiencing developmental regression or bowel symptoms was observed over a 20-year period that included the introduction of the MMR vaccine.
- Rates of bowel problems and developmental regression did not differ significantly among children who received the MMR vaccine before or after parental concern about development, nor compared to unvaccinated children.
- A potential association between non-specific bowel problems and regression in autistic children was noted, but this was independent of MMR vaccination status.
Conclusions:
- The study findings do not support the hypothesis of an MMR-associated
- new variant
- autism characterized by developmental regression and bowel issues.
- These results provide further evidence against the MMR vaccine's involvement in the initiation of autism.
Objectives:
To investigate whether measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccination is associated with bowel problems and developmental regression in children with autism, looking for evidence of a "new variant" form of autism.
Design:
Population study with case note review linked to independently recorded vaccine data.
Setting:
Five health districts in north east London.
Participants:
278 children with core autism and 195 with atypical autism, mainly identified from computerised disability registers and born between 1979 and 1998.
Main Outcome Measures:
Recorded bowel problems lasting at least three months, age of reported regression of the child's development where it was a feature, and relation of these to MMR vaccination.
Results:
The proportion of children with developmental regression (25% overall) or bowel symptoms (17%) did not change significantly (P value for trend 0.50 and 0.47, respectively) during the 20 years from 1979, a period which included the introduction of MMR vaccination in October 1988. No significant difference was found in rates of bowel problems or regression in children who received the MMR vaccine before their parents became concerned about their development (where MMR might have caused or triggered the autism with regression or bowel problem), compared with those who received it only after such concern and those who had not received the MMR vaccine. A possible association between non-specific bowel problems and regression in children with autism was seen but this was unrelated to MMR vaccination.
Conclusions:
These findings provide no support for an MMR associated "new variant" form of autism with developmental regression and bowel problems, and further evidence against involvement of MMR vaccine in the initiation of autism.