Ivan Gentile1, Emanuela Zappulo2, Maria Pia Riccio3, Sandro Binda4, Laura Bubba4, Laura Pellegrinelli4, Domenico Scognamiglio5, Francesca Operto6, Lucia Margari6, Guglielmo Borgia2, Carmela Bravaccio7. 1. Department of Clinical Medicine and Surgery, Section of Infectious Diseases, University of Naples "Federico II", Naples, Italy ivan.gentile@unina.it. 2. Department of Clinical Medicine and Surgery, Section of Infectious Diseases, University of Naples "Federico II", Naples, Italy. 3. Department of Physical and Mental Health and Preventive Medicine, Second University of Naples, Naples, Italy. 4. Department of Biomedical Sciences for Health, University of Milan, Milan, Italy. 5. Screening Center for Metabolic Diseases, AORN Santobono - Pausilipon - Hospital Annunziata, Naples, Italy. 6. Department of Basic Medical Sciences, Neuroscience and Sense Organs, University of Bari "Aldo Moro", Bari, Italy. 7. Department of Medical Translational Science, University of Naples "Federico II", Naples, Italy.
Abstract
BACKGROUND/AIM: Autism spectrum disorders (ASD) are neurodevelopmental disorders without a definitive etiology in most cases. Environmental factors, such as viral infections, have been linked with anomalies in brain growth, neuronal development, and functional connectivity. Congenital cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection has been associated with the onset of ASD in several case reports. The aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of congenital CMV infection in children with ASD and in healthy controls. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The CMV genome was tested by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) on dried blood spots collected at birth from 82 children (38 with ASD and 44 controls). RESULTS: The prevalence of congenital CMV infection was 5.3% (2/38) in cases and 0% (0/44) in controls (p=0.212). CONCLUSION: The infection rate was about 10-fold higher in patients with ASD than in the general Italian population at birth. For this reason, detection of CMV-DNA on dried blood spots could be considered in the work-up that is usually performed at ASD diagnosis to rule-out a secondary form. Given the potential prevention and treatment of CMV infection, this study could have intriguing consequences, at least for a group of patients with ASD. Copyright
BACKGROUND/AIM: Autism spectrum disorders (ASD) are neurodevelopmental disorders without a definitive etiology in most cases. Environmental factors, such as viral infections, have been linked with anomalies in brain growth, neuronal development, and functional connectivity. Congenital cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection has been associated with the onset of ASD in several case reports. The aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of congenital CMV infection in children with ASD and in healthy controls. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The CMV genome was tested by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) on dried blood spots collected at birth from 82 children (38 with ASD and 44 controls). RESULTS: The prevalence of congenital CMV infection was 5.3% (2/38) in cases and 0% (0/44) in controls (p=0.212). CONCLUSION: The infection rate was about 10-fold higher in patients with ASD than in the general Italian population at birth. For this reason, detection of CMV-DNA on dried blood spots could be considered in the work-up that is usually performed at ASD diagnosis to rule-out a secondary form. Given the potential prevention and treatment of CMV infection, this study could have intriguing consequences, at least for a group of patients with ASD. Copyright
Authors: Meng-Chuan Lai; Michael V Lombardo; Amber N V Ruigrok; Bhismadev Chakrabarti; Sally J Wheelwright; Bonnie Auyeung; Carrie Allison; Simon Baron-Cohen Journal: PLoS One Date: 2012-10-17 Impact factor: 3.240