Abstract
The present study is being conducted to explore the hypothesis that genetic and/or congenital factors are etiologically significant in certain persons with the syndrome of autism. To initiale theproject, the UCLA Registry for Genetic Studies in Autism was established in 1980. To date 254 families have enrolled. Extensive clinical material and past medical dato are being gathered from euch family. Information presented in this preliminary report is based solely upon parental reports and prior medical and school evaluations, as the diagnoses have not yet been verified by the authors. Clinical dato and family pedigrees will be analyzed by computer-based methods. Blood studies including chromosomes, gene markers, T-cell and B-cell functions, and antibody levels are being conducted on families meeting specific research criteria.
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This research is supported by the following: The Max and Lottie Dresher Fund for Research in Autism; the Bennin Fund; USPHS MH-31274 to Edward R. Ritvo, M.D.; USPHS MH-30897, Clinical Research Center for Study of Childhood Psychosis, Peter Tanguay, M.D., principal investigator, Edward R. Ritvo, M.D., coinvestigator; USPHS MH-29248 to B. J. Freeman. The authors wish to express their gratitude to the following members of their research team: Betty Jo Freeman, Ph.D., Steven Funderburk, M.D., Edward Geller, Ph.D., Donald Guthrie, Ph.D., Thomas McGraw, Ph.D., Farmarz Naiem, M.D., Robert Sparkes, M.D., M. Anne Spence, Ph.D., Mary J. Spencer, M.D., Roy Walford, M.D., Arthur Yuwiler, Ph.D., Stephen Giovanisci, Barry Guze, Geoffrey Loren, and Thomas Schmalzried.
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Ritvo, E.R., Ritvo, E.C. & Brothers, A.M. Genetic and immunohematologic factors in autism. J Autism Dev Disord 12, 109–114 (1982). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01531303
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01531303