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Abstract
Background: Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a complex neurodevelopment disease resulting from complex interaction between genetic and environmental factors.
Aim: This study aimed to detect if there is association between rubella virus and ASD.
Materials and methods: This case control study conducted from November 2016 to June 2017, blood samples were collected from forty ASD patients whom attended to the central teaching hospital for children in Al-Eskan city also this study included forty apparently healthy children as a control group. Enzyme Linked Immuno-Sorbent Assay (ELISA) technique was used for investigation of anti rubella antibodies in sera samples.
Results: The present results demonstrated significant difference regarding IgG sero-positivity of rubella virus between studied groups, there was 6 cases among 40 autistic patients with IgG sero-negative while all the controls have IgG positive ( P value =0.025).
Conclusion: Individuals with sero-negative of anti-rubella IgG may consider at risk for ASD.
Key words: Autism, IgG, Rubella.
Introduction
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is invasive developmental disorder characterized by deficits in social communication skills with repetitive, restricted or stereotyped behaviors (1). ASD apparently have a multifactorial etio-pathogenesis, resulting from a very complex interaction between genetic and environmental factors (2).
Adverse intrauterine environment resulting from maternal bacterial and viral infections during pregnancy represent a significant risk factor for some neuropsychiatric disorders including ASD (3). Many but not all population or case control studies have shown a slight to moderate association of maternal infections with ASD. The controversy might be related to the fact that only several specific maternal infections are associated with ASD. These are mainly rubella, cytomegalovirus (CMV) and possibly influenza. There were, however, case control studies that did not find any association of ASD with either maternal viral or bacterial infections (4).
Maternal fever during pregnancy has been linked to increased risk of ASD (5). Maternal antibodies increase in response to viruses or bacteria and may cross the placenta and disrupt fetal neurodevelopment by cross-reacting with fetal brain antigens via molecular mimicry (6).
Rubella infection in pregnant women can lead to fetal death or severe life-long disabilities as congenital rubella syndrome (7). In spite of the availability of an effective vaccine for rubella since the 1960s, the virus is still a global health concern with over 100,000...