Intra-monocyte pathogens delineate autism subgroups.
Immune panels of many autism-spectrum children reveal signs of atypical infections and shifted cell counts. In conjunction with trait-related cerebral hypometabolism and hypoperfusion, these findings suggest a hypothesis: Several autism-spectrum subgroups derive from intra-monocyte pathogens such as measles virus, cytomegalovirus, human herpesvirus 6, and Yersinia enterocolitica. Furthermore, with much inter-child variation, their effects manifest as diminished hematopoiesis, impaired peripheral immunity, and altered blood-brain barrier function often accompanied by demyelination. In some such children, one or more of these pathogens persists as a chronic-active, seemingly subclinical infection etiologically significant to the child's autistic traits. Within these subgroups, immune impairments and atypical infections may be treatable.
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Institute for Molecular Introspections, Estes Park, Colorado, USA. aspergerian@yahoo.com
D001321:Autistic Disorder / Q000145:classification / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000821:virology; D002648:Child; D006801:Humans; D009000:Monocytes / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000821:virology