Abstract
Although there are associations linking autism with prenatal rubella, cytomegalovirus, syphilis, and varicella, the etiology of the autistic state remains obscure. Host defense against the etiologic agents postulated to be responsible for the autism-associated syndromes is believed to be primarily of the cell-mediated type. In this preliminary study, cellular immune function was assessed in vitro by phytohemagglutinin (PHA)stimulation of lymphocyte cultures. Twelve autistic children and 13 control subjects were compared. The autistic group exhibited a depressed lymphocyte transformation response to PHA when compared to the control subjects (p<.01).
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This study was supported by research project 1164-01 from the Veterans Administration Hospital, Portland, Oregon, and also by Collins Medical Trust in Portland, Oregon, and MCH Training Grant #920.
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Stubbs, E.G., Crawford, M.L., Burger, D.R. et al. Depressed lymphocyte responsiveness in autistic children. J Autism Dev Disord 7, 49–55 (1977). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01531114
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01531114