Re: spikes in EEG cause autism

September 14, 2004

Andy commented one time that mercury toxic children produce some pretty " spikey "

EEGs. So I wonder if it's the other way around?

[ ] spikes in EEG cause autism

Ment Retard Dev Disabil Res Rev. 2004;10(2):132-4. Related Articles,

Links

Epileptic encephalopathies and their relationship to developmental disorders:

Do spikes cause autism?

Tharp BR.

Departments of Neurology and Pediatrics, The M.I.N.D. Institute, University of

California, , Sacramento, California.

Epileptic encephalopathies are progressive clinical and

electroencephalographic syndromes where deterioration is thought to be caused by

frequent seizures and abundant EEG epileptiform activity. Seizures occur in

approximately 10-15% of children with pervasive developmental disorders (PDD)

and 8-10% have epileptiform EEG abnormalities without seizures. Thirty percent

of children with PDD have regression of social behavior and language at 2-3

years of age. Some authors speculate that the regression is caused by

epileptiform activity even in the absence of overt clinical seizures ( " autism

with epileptic regression " ) and suggest that elimination of the epileptiform

activity, either medically or surgically, should lead to improvement in

behavior. This review examines the data showing that interictal epileptiform

discharges are associated with transient clinical dysfunction and discusses the

implications of these observations for autistic behavioral abnormalities. The

results of resective surgery, vagal nerve stimulation, and multiple subpial

transaction on children with autism and epileptiform EEG abnormalities are also

discussed. I conclude that there is no evidence that interictal discharges per

se cause (or contribute to) the complex behavioral phenotype of autism. There is

no justification to support the use of anticonvulsant medication or surgery in

children with PDD without seizures; that is, there is no evidence that treatment

to eliminate EEG spikes will have a therapeutic effect on the behavioral

abnormalities of PDD and autism. MRDD Research Reviews 2004;10:132-134.

PMID: 15362170 [PubMed - in process]

September 15, 2004

That's interesting to me, because I have a friend who KNOWS that her son's

disability was from his DTP shot when he was two years old(I don't know if this

was his only immunization that he had that day). He is now 27 years old. He

exhibited autistic behaviors before his shots, he had some speech, could walk,

etc. After the vaccines he had a fever and had his first seizure. From there it

got worse and worse. This is a 27 year old man who can no longer feed himself,

talk, etc. He has to wear a helmet, just in case he has a seizure. Not a day

goes by without one.

Jodie

P.S. I joined the group for awhile in May or June and then unsubscribed when

things got way to busy. We've now seen a naturopath, and she did a kryptopyrolle

test. The reading was high, so we're now starting down the road of chelation. I

rejoined the list a couple of days ago. Does anyone know a doctor in the

Portland(OR) area who will take a referral from a pediatrician for insurance

purposes? My doctor does not know how to do this. How different is it from

chelating with lead?Don't they have to do that? Thanks!

[ ] spikes in EEG cause autism

Ment Retard Dev Disabil Res Rev. 2004;10(2):132-4. Related Articles,

Links

Epileptic encephalopathies and their relationship to developmental

disorders: Do spikes cause autism?

Tharp BR.

Departments of Neurology and Pediatrics, The M.I.N.D. Institute, University

of California, , Sacramento, California.