Impairments in social relatedness and communication, repetitive behaviors, and stereotypic
abnormal movement patterns characterize
autism spectrum disorders (ASDs). It is clear that while genetic factors are important to the pathogenesis of ASDs,
mercury exposure can induce immune, sensory, neurological, motor, and behavioral dysfunctions similar to traits defining or associated with ASDs. The Institutional Review Board of the Institute for
Chronic Illnesses (Office for Human Research Protections, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, IRB number IRB00005375) approved the present study. A case series of nine patients who presented to the Genetic Centers of America for a genetic/developmental evaluation are discussed. Eight of nine patients (one patient was found to have an ASD due to
Rett's syndrome) (a) had regressive ASDs; (b) had elevated levels of
androgens; (c) excreted significant amounts of
mercury post chelation challenge; (d) had biochemical evidence of decreased function in their
glutathione pathways; (e) had no known significant
mercury exposure except from
Thimerosal-containing
vaccines/
Rho(D)-immune globulin preparations; and (f) had alternate causes for their regressive ASDs ruled out. There was a significant dose-response relationship between the severity of the regressive ASDs observed and the total
mercury dose children received from
Thimerosal-containing
vaccines/
Rho (D)-immune globulin preparations. Based upon differential diagnoses, 8 of 9 patients examined were exposed to significant
mercury from
Thimerosal-containing
biologic/
vaccine preparations during their fetal/infant developmental periods, and subsequently, between 12 and 24 mo of age, these previously normally developing children suffered
mercury toxic encephalopathies that manifested with clinical symptoms consistent with regressive ASDs. Evidence for
mercury intoxication should be considered in the differential diagnosis as contributing to some regressive ASDs.