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Specific Therapies For Different Disorders
Within The Autistic Spectrum

As indicated below, many different disorders are termed "Autism," although they differ in etiologies and hence require different therapies. A good analogy is that of anemia, which can be due to folic acid deficiency, vitamin B12 deficiency, iron deficiency, autoantibody destruction of one's own red cells, enzyme defect, or abnormal hemoglobin (e.g. sickle cell anemia).  The symptoms, regardless of cause, are quite similar: pallor, shortness of breath, etc. The correct cause can be determined by laboratory tests. Folic acid deficiency anemia responds to folic acid but not to other medications. B12 deficiency anemia (also called pernicious anemia), due to insufficient intake or absorption of B12), responds to B12 injection. Iron deficiency responds to iron administration. Autoantibody to red cells responds to Cortisone and nothing else. For anemias due to enzyme deficiency or abnormal hemoglobin, etc., the only therapy at present is genetic engineering. (Note that B-12 will not aid iron-deficiency anemia, and cortisone derivatives will often make it worse, since the chief cause may be a silent, bleeding, peptic ulcer, which would be exacerbated by cortisone.)

CLASSIC AUTISM (INFANTILE ONSET)

1.  Measles virus vaccine-induced (classic infantile autism, age of onset 15 months in US, 12 months UK and Canada)
Treatment - Antigen-specific Transfer Factor for measles vaccine virus.

2.  Rubella virus vaccine-induced (often within 4 days of birth, due to maternal immunization while in hospital)
Treatment - Antigen-specific Transfer Factor for rubella vaccine virus.

OTHER TYPES OF AUTISM

Some of the disorders lumped together as "Autism," different from classical infantile Autism, are listed below; they share some, but not all, clinical features; most have a different age of onset, different immunologic features, and different optimal therapy.

1.  PERVASIVE DEVELOPMENTAL DISORDER (PDD)
due to (a) Clostridia toxins (b) Salmonella toxins (c) Aspergillosis

2.  DELAYED DEVELOPMENTAL DISORDER (DDD)
Usually due to effects of one or more toxic heavy metals on brain and thyroid
Treatment - chelation with appropriate chelating agent.

3.  ATTENTION DEFICIT DISORDER (ADD)
  We find antibodies to the N-terminal end of growth hormone
  Treatment - plasmapheresis.

4.  LANDAU-KLEFFNER SYNDROME (AUTISM-EPILEPSY SYNDROME)
We find antibodies to glutamic acid decarboxylase (GAD), very important in memory.
Treatment: plasmapheresis.

If plasmapheresis fails and antibodies to myelin basic protein are present, try Intravenous Immunoglobulin (IVIG). After several infusions, symptoms of mild transfusion reaction may develop to due antibodies to antigens present on the surface of immunoglobulin molecules lacking in the recipient.

Analogy - infusion of Rh+ blood into Rh- recipient presents no problem the first time, only a problem on subsequent infusions.

For other autistic conditions with epilepsy, try neuronal calcium ion channel blockers; if of no help, photonic therapy.

5.  ASPERGER'S SYNDROME
(defective socialization and clumsy motor movements, no other symptoms of autism)
We have found serotonin deficiency in some.
Treatment: We use serotonin re-uptake inhibitors (e.g., Zoloft) to prolong the time serotonin is available to brain receptors; results in rapid improvement.

RARE AUTISTIC DISORDERS

1.  SEGMENTAL DEVELOPMENTAL DISORDER
Usually just severe speech deficit

2.  FRAGILE X SYNDROME

3.  X-LINKED 5'-NUCLEOTIDASE DEFICIENCY
Treatment - enzyme can be obtained from one of several research labs now using it for a rare immunodeficiency syndrome.

4.  COLEMAN'S HYPOCALCEMIA AND HYPOCALCURIA SYNDROME
Investigations needed as to cause; perhaps abnormalities in thyrocalcitonin?

5.  ATYPICAL AUTISM
Such as that of some children of veterans with Gulf War Syndrome. Severity of autistic-like symptoms appears to be proportional to severity of illness in parent when conception occurred.

RARE FINDINGS IN AUTISM, PRESUMABLY ETIOLOGIC

1.  Antibodies to dopamine and/or serotonin

2.  Antibodies to dopamine and/or serotonin receptors.

3.  Antibodies to dopamine and/or serotonin transport proteins.

4.  High or low levels of one or more catecholamines; this is probably due to vitamin (e.g., thiamin) deficiency causing decrease in activity of enzymes responsible for synthesis and degradation of the various catecholamines.

NON-AUTISTIC BUT INVOLVED IN DIFFERENTIAL DIAGNOSIS

1.  Prader-Willi Syndrome

2.  Rett Syndrome

3.  Williams Syndrome

4.  Post-Meningitis Syndrome

5.  Candidiasis Autoimmune Poylendocrinopathy Syndrome
(Wuepper-Fudenberg Syndrome, 1967)
Deficiency of tryptophan hydroxylase, the rate limiting enzyme in serotonin synthesis.