Journal of IiME Volume 3 Issue 1 www.investinme.org Similarities of ME/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS) and Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD): Comparisons of Co-Infections (continued) Mycoplasma was found (usually M. fermentans), the majority of ASD patients in Central California were found to have single or multiple mycoplasmal infections involving M. pneumoniae, M. fermentans, M. hominis or M. genitalium. We also examined two other commonly found infections in CFS patients (4-7), C. pneumoniae and HHV-6 (13, 14). The results suggested that infections are a common feature in ASD as well as CFS. Consistent with this hypothesis is the finding that autism occurs at greater prevalence during periods of more frequent hospitalizations for bronchitis or pneumonia (19), and maternal viral infections during the second trimester of pregnancy are associated with increased risk of autism in their offspring (20, 21). In a separate study on CFS patients the presence of chronic infections has also been statistically related to the number and severity of signs/symptoms seen in CFS patients (14). Although similar studies in ASD patients have no been done, it has been observed that patients with severe ASD are those with systemic infections of the type seen in this study (unpublished observations). The appearance of infections in children diagnosed with ASD may eventually be linked to the multiple vaccines received during childhood either as a source or from opportunistic infections in immune suppressed recipients of multiple vaccines. Although the etiology of ASD is currently unknown and thought to involve both genetic and environmental factors (22, 23), the infections found in ASD patients should be considered along with other factors in the management of these disorders (24). REFERENCES 1. Nicolson, G.L. Chronic infections in neurodegenerative and Invest in ME (Charity Nr. 1114035) neurobehavioral diseases. Laboratory Medicine 2008; 39(5): 291-299. 2. Nicolson GL, Nasralla MY, Haier J et al. Mycoplasmal infections in chronic illnesses: Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue Syndromes, Gulf War Illness, HIV-AIDS and Rheumatoid Arthritis. Med Sentinel 1999; 5:172-176. 3. Walch CM, Zainal NZ, Middleton SJ, et al. A family history study of chronic fatigue syndrome. Psych Genet 2001; 11:123-128. 4. Nicolson GL, Nasralla MY, Nicolson NL, Haier J. High prevalence of mycoplasmal infections in symptomatic (Chronic Fatigue Syndrome) family members of mycoplasmapositive Gulf War Illness patients. J Chronic Fatigue Syndr 2002; 11(2):21-36. 5. Nicolson GL, Nasralla M, Haier J, et al. Diagnosis and treatment of chronic mycoplasmal infections in Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue Syndromes: relationship to Gulf War Illness. Biomed Ther 1998; 16:266271. 6. Nicolson GL, Nasralla M, Franco AR, et al. Diagnosis and Integrative Treatment of Intracellular Bacterial Infections in Chronic Fatigue and Fibromyalgia Syndromes, Gulf War Illness, Rheumatoid Arthritis and other Chronic Illnesses. Clin Pract Alt Med 2000; 1:92-102. 7. Nicolson GL, Nasralla M, Franco AR, et al. Mycoplasmal infections in fatigue illnesses: Chronic Fatigue and Fibromyalgia Syndromes, Gulf War Illness and Rheumatoid Arthritis. J Chronic Fatigue Syndr 2000; 6(3/4):23-39. 8. Nicolson GL, Berns P, Gan R, et al. Chronic mycoplasmal infections in Gulf War veterans’ children and autism patients. Med Veritas 2005; 2:383-87. 9. Wing L, Leekam SR, Libby SJ, Gould SJ, et al. The diagnostic interview for social and communication disorders: background, inter-rater reliability and clinical use. J Child Psychol Psychiatry 2002; 43:307-325. 10. Nicolson GL, Gan R, Nicolson NL, et al. Evidence for Mycoplasma, Chlamydia pneunomiae and HHV-6 Co-infections in the blood of patients with Autism Spectrum Disorders. J Neuroscience Res 2007; 85:114348. Page 19/76
20 Publizr Home