THE US: New evidence suggesting a link between the measles, mumps and rubella vaccine (MMR) and autism emerged today from the US.
Scientists at Utah State University in Logan found a strong association between the vaccine and an autoimmune reaction thought to play a role in autism.
The team led by Dr Vijendra Singh analysed blood samples from 125 autistic children and 92 children who did not have the developmental disorder.
The researchers found a "significant increase" in the level of MMR antibodies in the autistic children.
Part of the measles component of the vaccine caused an unusual anti-measles response in 75 of the autistic children, but not in the normal children.
More than 90 per cent of the autistic samples which showed an immune response to MMR were also positive for antibodies thought to be involved in autism.
These antibodies attack the brain by targeting the basic building blocks of myelin, the insulating sheath that covers nerve fibres.
Dr Singh has suggested that this autoimmune response may be the root cause of autism.
The US scientists, who report their findings in the latest issue of the Journal of Biomedical Science, concluded: "Stemming from this evidence, we suggest that an inappropriate antibody response to MMR, specifically the measles component thereof, might be related to pathogenesis of autism." Dr Singh has published previous work indicating a link between MMR and autism.
He has argued for years that autism can be traced to an autoimmune reaction centred on the brain.
The new study will fuel more controversy over MMR fears, which have been blamed for downturns in the number of children being vaccinated.
MMR vaccine uptake in the UK for 16-month-old children dropped from 76.2 to 70.1 per cent between December and March, but then rose to 72 per cent in April.
Immunisation for 24-month-old children fell from 85.8 to 84.4 per cent over the same winter period and then increased to 85.9 per cent.
Public health experts have warned that low uptake of MMR could increase the risk of measles outbreaks. But the pressure group Jabs said the new research strengthened its case. - (PA)