title: [Minor physical anomalies in autism].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Minor physical anomalies are mild, clinically and cosmetically insignificant errors of morphogenesis which have a prenatal origin and may bear major informational value for diagnostic, prognostic and epidemiological purposes. Since both the central nervous system and the skin are derived from the same ectodermal tissue in utero, minor physical anomalies can be external markers of abnormal brain development and they appear more commonly in neurodevelopmental disorders. In a recently published meta-analysis Ozgen et al. have published the results of seven studies--all have used the Waldrop Scale which contains 18 minor physical anomalies--and reported on the higher prevalence of minor physical anomalies among patients with autism. There are only a very few data on the individual analysis of the prevalence of minor physical anomalies in autism.
  
  
  METHODS
  In our study we have studied the prevalence of 57 minor physical anomalies in 20 patients with autism and in 20 matched control subjects by the use of the Méhes Scale.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The prevalence of minor physical anomalies was significantly higher in the autism group (p < 0.001). The individual analysis of the 57 minor physical anomalies showed the significantly more frequent apperance of four signs (primitive shape of ear p = 0.047, abnormal philtrum p = 0.001, clinodactylia p = 0.002, wide distance between toes 1 and 2 p = 0.003). No correlation was found between the four significantly more common minor physical anomalies.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The higher prevalence of minor physical anomalies in autism supports the neurodevelopmental hypothesis of the disorder and the individual analysis of minor physical anomalies can help to understand the nature of the neurodevelopmental defect.
authors: Pécsi Tudományegyetem, AOK, Pszichiátriai es Pszichoterápiás Klinika, Pécs. tamas.tenyi@aok.pte.hu
authors: Tamás
authors: T
authors: Tényi
authors: Sára
authors: S
authors: Jeges
authors: Tamás
authors: T
authors: Halmai
authors: Györgyi
authors: G
authors: Csábi
mesh_terms: D001321:Autistic Disorder / Q000150:complications*; D015415:Biomarkers; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010808:Physical Examination; D015995:Prevalence
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers