title: Low Serum Alpha-Antitrypsin Associated with Anti-PR-3 ANCA in Autistic Children with GI Disease.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess the possible relationship between serum alpha-1 antitrypsin (AAT) levels and anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies (ANCA) in autistic children with severe GI disease and to test the hypothesis that there is an association between low serum AAT levels, the presence of ANCA and inflammatory GI disease seen in some autistic children.
  
  
  METHODS
  Serum from 40 autistic children with chronic digestive disease (many with ileo-colonic lymphoid nodular hyperplasia (LNH) and inflammation of the colorectum, small bowel and/or stomach), and 41 controls (21 age matched autistic children with no GI disease and 20 age matched children without autism or GI disease) were tested using ELISAs designed to quantitate ANCA (anti-PR3), AAT and PR3 levels.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We found that a significant number of autistic children with chronic digestive disease had anti-PR3 ANCA, high serum PR3 and high severity of disease when compared to controls. This same group of autistic children had low serum levels of AAT compared to controls, which also correlated with the presence of anti-PR3 ANCA, high serum PR3, as well as the severity of intestinal disease, particularly LNH and severe erythema.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results suggest a relationship between low AAT levels, ANCA and severity of GI disease seen in a subpopulation of ASD individuals. We suggest that low AAT levels may result in high levels of PR3, which may, in turn be associated with the presence of ANCA.
authors.affiliation: Research Director Health Research Institute/Pfeiffer Treatment Center, 4575 Weaver Parkway Warrenville, Illinois 60555.
authors.forename: A J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Russo
authors.affiliation: Thoughtful House Center for Children, 3001 Bee Caves Road, Austin, Texas, 78746.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Krigsman
authors.affiliation: Thoughtful House Center for Children, 3001 Bee Caves Road, Austin, Texas, 78746.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Jepson
authors.affiliation: Thoughtful House Center for Children, 3001 Bee Caves Road, Austin, Texas, 78746.
authors.forename: Andrew
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Wakefield
keywords: GI disease; PR3; alpha-1 antitrypsin; autism