title: Gastrointestinal symptoms in children with an autism spectrum disorder and language regression.
abstract: Few studies have compared gastrointestinal problems in children with an autism spectrum disorder with and without a history of language regression. A cross-sectional study was conducted with structured interviews in 100 children with autism spectrum disorder, using a gastrointestinal questionnaire and a familial autoimmune questionnaire. By parental report, children with language regression more frequently exhibited an abnormal stool pattern (40% vs 12%, P = 0.006) and had an increased family history of celiac disease or inflammatory bowel disease (24% vs 0%, P = 0.001) and of rheumatoid arthritis (30% vs 11%, P = 0.03). Among 35 children with a family history of autoimmune disease, an abnormal stool pattern was reported more frequently in those with language regression (78% vs 15%, P = 0.001) than in those without. An association was observed between children with language regression, a family history of autoimmune disease, and gastrointestinal symptoms. Additional studies are needed to examine a possible shared autoimmune process.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Children's Evaluation and Rehabilitation Center, Bronx, New York 10461, USA. rvalicenti@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Maria D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Valicenti-McDermott
authors.forename: Kathryn
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: McVicar
authors.forename: Herbert J
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Cohen
authors.forename: Barry K
authors.initials: BK
authors.lastname: Wershil
authors.forename: Shlomo
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Shinnar
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001321:Autistic Disorder / Q000150:complications*; D001327:Autoimmune Diseases / Q000235:genetics; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005192:Family Health; D005260:Female; D005767:Gastrointestinal Diseases / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007805:Language Development Disorders / Q000150:complications*; D008297:Male; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D012189:Retrospective Studies