title: MMR vaccine and autism: an update of the scientific evidence.
abstract: An hypothesis published in 1998 suggested that measles-mumps-rubella vaccine may cause autism as a result of persistent measles virus infection of the gastrointestinal tract. Results of early studies were not supportive and in 2001 a review by the Institute of Medicine concluded that the evidence favors the rejection of a causal relationship at the population level between measles-mumps-rubella vaccine and autistic spectrum disorder. Studies published since the Institute of Medicine report have continued not to find an increased risk of autistic spectrum disorder associated with measles-mumps-rubella. The vaccine also has not been found to be associated with a unique syndrome of developmental regression and gastrointestinal disorders. The evidence now is convincing that the measles-mumps-rubella vaccine does not cause autism or any particular subtypes of autistic spectrum disorder.
authors.affiliation: National Immunization Program, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1600 Clifton Road, Mailstop E61, Atlanta, Georgia 30333, USA. fdestefano@cdc.gov
authors.forename: Frank
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: DeStefano
authors.forename: William W
authors.initials: WW
authors.lastname: Thompson
mesh_terms: D001321:Autistic Disorder / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000453:epidemiology; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D004760:Enterocolitis / Q000139:chemically induced; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D022542:Measles-Mumps-Rubella Vaccine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects*
chemical_list: D022542:Measles-Mumps-Rubella Vaccine