Mercury-associated diagnoses among children diagnosed with pervasive development disorders.

Abstract

Nelson and Bauman (Pediatrics 111:674-679, 2003) previously hypothesized that pervasive developmental disorder (PDD) was not associated with mercury (Hg) exposure because the medical conditions associated with Hg exposure were not associated with PDD. A hypothesis-testing longitudinal case-control study evaluated the frequency of medically diagnosed conditions previously associated with Hg poisoning, including: epilepsy, dysarthria, failure to thrive, cerebral palsy, or contact dermatitis and other eczema among children preceding their eventual PDD diagnosis (cases) compared to controls. A retrospective examination of medical records within the Vaccine Safety Datalink (VSD) was undertaken. Cases diagnosed with PDD (n = 534) were born from 1991 to 2000 and continuously enrolled until their PDD diagnosis. Controls (n = 26,367) were born from 1991 to 1993 and continuously enrolled from birth for 7.22 years. Within the first 5 years of life, cases compared to controls were significantly (p < 0.0001) more likely to be assigned a diagnosis of contact dermatitis and other eczema (odds ratio (OR) = 2.033), dysarthria (OR = 23.992), epilepsy (OR = 5.351), failure to thrive (OR = 25.3), and cerebral palsy (OR = 4.464). Similar results were observed when the data were separated by gender. Overall, the results of the present study and recently published studies provide direct evidence supporting a link in twelve of twelve categories (100%) of Hg poisoning associated symptoms as defined by Nelson and Bauman (Pediatrics 111:674-679, 2003) and symptoms observed in those with a PDD diagnosis. The results of this study support the biological plausibility of Hg poisoning to induce PDD diagnoses and rejection of the Nelson and Bauman (Pediatrics 111:674-679, 2003) hypothesis because those with a PDD diagnosis have an increased frequency of conditions previously associated with Hg poisoning.

• Authors: David A Geier, Janet K Kern, Lisa K Sykes, Mark R Geier
• Journal: Metabolic brain disease (Metab Brain Dis) Vol. 33 Issue 3 Pg. 949-960 (06 2018) ISSN: 1573-7365 [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 29512044 (Publication Type: Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Mercury

Topics

• Case-Control Studies
• Child
• Child Development Disorders, Pervasive (complications, diagnosis, etiology)
• Child, Preschool
• Female
• Humans
• Infant
• Infant, Newborn
• Longitudinal Studies
• Male
• Mercury (toxicity)
• Retrospective Studies
• Sex Factors