New Studies: Autism, ADHD, CFS -- IMMED What's New

[Guest guest]

The following was copied/pasted from " What's New " on www.immed.org,

Dr. Garth Nicolson's site. Hopefully, if any of the readers know of

children with these problems, they will pass on this information

which might be beneficial.

bg

[Copied material begins here]

03/27/00 New studies to begin on Autism and Attention Deficit

Hyperactivity Disorder at the Institute for Molecular Medicine and

International Molecular Diagnostics.

The IMM has been working with pediatricians who have patients with

Autism and/or Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) to

determine a causal connection between the signs and symptoms suffered

by these patients and chronic infections caused by mycoplasmas or

other chronic infectious pathogens. Mycoplasmas are microscopic

microorganisms similar to bacteria but without a rigid cell wall, and

the pathogenic forms of these microorganisms can penetrate into cells

and enter the Central Nervous System. Some species of mycoplasmas do

not cause human disease , but recently several species of mycoplasma

have been shown to cause disease, and when such mycoplasma species

are found in the blood, they should be treated just like any other

bacterial blood infection. The species of mycoplasma that we have

found are present in high incidence in patients with Chronic Fatigue

Syndrome, Fibromyalgia Syndrome, Gulf War Illness, Rheumatoid

Arthritis and other autoimmune diseases where they cause system-wide

or systemic infections that invade virtually every tissue in the body

and can compromise the immune system, permitting opportunistic

infections by viruses, bacteria, fungi and yeast. The signs and

symptoms of patients with multiple chronic infections can be quite

complex, and each patient tends to have their own unique set of

problems.

Recently we have found that Autistic children show high incidence of

systemic mycoplasmal infections. Similarly, in children with ADHD, we

have found an alarming rate of mycoplasmal infections approaching one-

half of cases. In addition to their association with Autism and ADHD,

systemic mycoplasmal infections can cause chronic fatigue,

reoccurring fevers, night sweats, joint and muscle pains, stomach

upsets and cramps, diarrhea, breathing problems, sleep disturbances,

sinus congestion/pain, headaches, skin rashes, kidney pain,

dizziness, nausea, short term memory loss, vision problems, such as

light sensitivity, blurred vision, hair loss, urination problems, eye

pain, heart and thyroid problems and in extreme cases autoimmune-like

disorders, abnormal allergic responses, peculiar neurological

symptoms, heart abnormalities, respiratory ailments, gastric

discomforts ranging from ulcers to irritable bowel syndrome, and in

extreme instances encephalitis and/or meningitis. Mycoplasmal

infections can start as respiratory infections or post-vaccination

illnesses that cause a flu-like illness that progresses to a systemic

condition.

We are having success in recommending treatment of CFS, FMS, GWI and

Rheumatoid Arthritis patients with antibiotics, such as doxycycline,

ciprofloxacin, azithromycin and Biaxin with immune support and

dietary supplements. Unfortunately, most children are too young to

take strong antibiotics, with the exception of azithromycin which has

been shown to pediatric safe. Children over the age of 7 can take low-

dose doxycycline or low-dose Biaxin. Children with Autism and ADHD

and confirmed diagnosis of systemic mycoplasmal infections have been

successfully treated for these conditions with antibiotics, immune

support, and dietary supplements with vitamins and minerals (see

Treatment Considerations section of this website). IMM now wants to

expand these data.

The IMM recommends that it would be prudent for children with Autism

and/or ADHD to be tested for mycoplasmal infections at our certified

reference diagnostic laboratory, International Molecular Diagnostics,

Inc (www.imd-lab.com) (or Tel: 714-799-7177, ext. 202) and to treat

such mycoplasmal infections when they are found in the blood.

For further information contact:

Prof. Garth Nicolson (gnicimm@...)

President & Chief Scientific Officer

The Institute for Molecular Medicine

For children with CFS, Autism or ADHD, The Institute for Molecular

Medicine suggests the following tests (codes follow IMD or CPT codes):

1. Panel 1007 (CPT: 87798, 87581)--Mycoplasma species panel of four

pathogenic mycoplasmas (M. fermentans, M. penumoniae, M. hominis, M.

penetrans) by PCR. Justification: Many autistic, ADHD or CFS

pediatric patients have one or more intracellular, systemic

mycoplasmal infections similar to those found in a variety of chronic

illnesses [Nicolson 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]. Ultrasensitive and ultraspecific mycoplasma tests can only be

done by a small number of labs, most university or government labs

that have been trained by us under a U.S. government contract.

Specimen Requirements: one (1) 5 cc Lavender top Plastic Tube (EDTA).

The blood is collected, immediately mixed and placed on ice, then

shipped on wet ice (domestic) or immediately flash frozen and shipped

with dry ice by air courier (foreign shipments) to IMD to arrive

within 24-36 hours. Cost=$250 (Note that other commercial labs charge

$400-600)

2. Test 00873 (CPT: 87178)-- Chlamydia species by PCR. Justification:

Many patients have this systemic infection along with viral infection

(s). We were among the few labs that developed the molecular tests

that are now done for this type of infection. The other labs that use

these procedures are university labs. Specimen Requirements: one (1)

5 cc Lavender top Plastic Tube (EDTA). The blood is collected,

immediately mixed and placed on ice, then shipped on wet ice

(domestic) or immediately flash frozen and shipped with dry ice

(foreign shipments) by air courier to IMD to arrive within 24-36

hours. Cost=$180 (Note that other commercial labs charge $200-250)

3. Test 87532 (CPT: 87532)—HHV-6A test by PCR. Justification: Many

patients have this systemic infection, and it should be tested for in

any autoimmune illness. Specimen Requirements: Collect blood in one

(1) 5 cc Lavender Top Plasma Tubes (EDTA), mixed and separate blood

plasma by centrifugation. The plasma is then shipped on wet ice

(domestic) or immediately flash frozen and shipped with dry ice

(foreign shipments) by air courier to IMD to arrive within 24-36

hours. Cost=$180 (Note that other commercial labs charge $200-300)

The Institute for Molecular Medicine suggests that the above PCR

speciality tests be ordered for patients through International

Molecular Diagnostics, Inc., 15162 Triton Lane, Huntington Beach, CA

92649 USA. Tel: 714-799-7177, ext. 202 (Client Services) or ext. 204

(Brant Blasingame). Order forms and additional information are

available upon request. The IMD website is www.imd-lab.com.

Prof. Garth Nicolson

President & Chief Scientific Officer,

The Institute for Molecular Medicine

Professor of Internal Medicine