title: Anti-Basal Ganglia Antibodies and Streptococcal Infection in ADHD.
abstract: Group A Streptococcus has been associated with ADHD, tic disorders (TD), and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) through anti-basal ganglia antibodies (ABGA).
  
  
  
  We investigated the association between ABGA and streptococcal exposure with behavioral, motor, and cognitive measures in 38 children with ADHD not comorbid to OCD or TD (nc-ADHD) and in 38 healthy children. An additional group of 15 children with TD and/or OCD was examined.
  
  
  
  ABGA titers were present in 3% of nc-ADHD patients and controls but in 27% of TD and/or OCD patients. Evidence of streptococcal exposure was similar between ADHD patients and controls living in the same urban area. Behavioral, motor, and cognitive measures were not associated with anti-streptococcal antibodies.
  
  
  
  ABGA do not distinguish nc-ADHD from controls. The differences in the frequency of streptococcal exposure in previous studies are determined by the dynamic nature of the infection rather than the behavioral phenotype of ADHD.
authors.affiliation: 1 Navarra Health Service Hospital, Pamplona, Spain.
authors.forename: Sergio
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Aguilera-Albesa
authors.affiliation: 2 Clínica Universidad de Navarra, Pamplona, Spain.
authors.forename: Nerea
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Crespo-Eguílaz
authors.affiliation: 2 Clínica Universidad de Navarra, Pamplona, Spain.
authors.forename: José Luis
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Del Pozo
authors.affiliation: 3 Institute of Biomedical Research August Pi Sunyer (IDIBAPS)-Hospital Clinic of Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Pablo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Villoslada
authors.affiliation: 2 Clínica Universidad de Navarra, Pamplona, Spain.
authors.forename: Rocío
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Sánchez-Carpintero
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001289:Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology*; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000097:blood*; D001479:Basal Ganglia / Q000276:immunology*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D015897:Comorbidity; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009771:Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology; D013290:Streptococcal Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology*; D013981:Tic Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D001323:Autoantibodies
keywords: PANDAS; anti-neuronal antibodies; group A Streptococcus; obsessive–compulsive disorder; post-streptococcal neuropsychiatric disorder; tic disorder