Fever Plus Mitochondrial Disease Could Be Risk Factors for AutisticRegression

[Guest guest]

Child Neurol. 2009 Sep 22.

Fever Plus Mitochondrial Disease Could Be Risk Factors for Autistic

Regression.

Shoffner J, Hyams L, Niedziela-Langley G, Cossette S, Mylacraine L, Dale

J, Ollis L, Kuoch S, K, Aliberti A, Hyland K.

Medical Neurogenetics and Georgia State University, Atlanta, Georgia.

Autistic spectrum disorders encompass etiologically heterogeneous

persons, with many genetic causes. A subgroup of these individuals has

mitochondrial disease. Because a variety of metabolic disorders,

including mitochondrial disease show regression with fever, a

retrospective chart review was performed and identified 28 patients who

met diagnostic criteria for autistic spectrum disorders and

mitochondrial disease. Autistic regression occurred in 60.7% (17 of 28),

a statistically significant increase over the general autistic spectrum

disorder population (P < .0001). Of the 17 individuals with autistic

regression, 70.6% (12 of 17) regressed with fever and 29.4% (5 of 17)

regressed without identifiable linkage to fever or vaccinations. None

showed regression with vaccination unless a febrile response was

present. Although the study is small, a subgroup of patients with

mitochondrial disease may be at risk of autistic regression with fever.

Although recommended vaccinations schedules are appropriate in

mitochondrial disease, fever management appears important for decreasing

regression risk.

PMID: 19773461