Autism - Etiology:
Autism and disorders resembling autism can be caused by a number of disorders, including Fragile X Syndrome, tuberous sclerosis, and phenylketonuria, and by at least one notable chromosomal abnormality, an inverted duplication of a portion of chromosome 15. But for the vast majority of cases of autism today, there is no strictly genetic explanation. As with many chronic disorders, most cases of autism appear to be caused by some genetic predisposition coupled with some early environmental insult.
Several recently-released reports point to the occurrence of an autism "epidemic" with the latest incidence figures quoted to be on the order of 1 out of every 250 children. The Report on Autism to the California Legislature released in 1999 documents a large increase in full-blown DSM IV autism alone, with other disorders increasing at the same rate as population growth. F. E. Yazbak, M.D. found similar rates of increasing incidence in other states reported in his Autism 99: A National Emergency. The Center for Disease Controls own investigation of Brick township, New Jersey found a very high incidence of autism as well. Some noted sources attribute the apparent increase in autism incidence to better diagnoses on the part of pediatricians and the various pediatric specialties. Most, however, are unable to fully accept this simplistic explanation because the diagnosis is strictly a behavioral one, and it is highly doubtful that the highly skilled diagnosticians of earlier years could have overlooked such obvious behavioral anomalies occurring in such a large proportion of children. Furthermore, since it is impossible to have a "genetic epidemic", one must examine possible early environmental insults for clues to explain the increase in autism cases.
Bernard, et al, have written an excellent article comparing autism with mercury poisoning. All aspects of both disorders are examined, including symptoms, signs and findings on laboratory tests. The parallels between the two disorders is disturbingly obvious, even to the most casual reader. This, coupled with many case reports of clinical improvement among autistic children upon removal of at least a small part of their whole-body load of mercury, seems to indicate that many cases of autism today are, in fact, cases of mercury poisoning. The early environmental insult, in these cases, is mercury exposure that overwhelmed the bodys attempts at detoxification.
How does mercury gain access to a fetus or an infant? First of all, mercury is ubiquitous. It is in our water supply. In this setting, it exists mainly in cationic (1+ or 2+) form. This form is largely unabsorbed. Fish and shellfish are a known source of organic mercury (methyl mercury). Organic mercury is absorbed reasonably well by the gastrointestinal tract. Exposure via these two routes is common, but it is far exceeded by exposure via dental amalgams and thimerosal-containing vaccines. Mercury vapor is known to be released from dental amalgams, and it is known to cross the placenta with ease. It is not too far-fetched to assume that some mercury vapor (Hg - 0) is released from the dental amalgams of the mother, she inhales the vapor, it enters her bloodstream, some crosses the placenta and enters the developing fetus. Once metallic mercury (vapor, Hg - 0) enters the cell, it can be easily converted to its cationic form, and in this form, readily binds to sulfhydryl groups on enzymes and other proteins. Once tightly bound via this mechanism, it is in the body for a long time. Thimerosal-containing vaccines are now given with abandon. Upon its arrival into our world, the newborn is greeted with a Hepatitis B vaccine. He then receives several more doses of this vaccine along with DPT and Hib vaccines. All three of these vaccines contain relatively large amounts of thimerosal, which is 49.6% ethyl-mercury by weight. It was not long ago that the only vaccine containing thimerosal was the DPT vaccine. But, the Hepatitis B vaccine was made "mandatory" in 1991 and the Hib vaccine a few years earlier. Is it a coincidence that the incidence rate of autism has soared in the 1990's? Is it better diagnosis or is it more mercury early in life? Add onto these noted exposures the thimerosal-containing RhoGam injection. A reasonable conclusion of greatly increased mercury exposure to developing fetuses, newborns and young infants being responsible for the obvious autism "epidemic" is almost inescapable.
Why isnt every child equally affected? The answer remains unknown at the present time, although recent investigations point to the possibility of problems with at least one form of metallothionein. Studies further investigating the structure and amounts of various metallothionein proteins in autism will be done later this year.
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Testing for Mercury Toxicity:
Poisoning with most heavy metals is detected easily with blood tests. For example, if a person has detectable lead in his body, he will have some detectable lead in his blood. In fact, the gold standard for the detection of poisoning for most heavy metals is a test of intracellular content using red blood cells. Hair and urine levels of heavy metals are a general reflection of blood levels. Also, getting rid of most heavy metals such as lead with chelating agents is not difficult. This is because most heavy metals in the body exist in a reasonable equilibrium between their preferred storage sites and the bloodstream.
This is not the case with mercury. After an exposure, detectable levels are present in the blood for only a short time, on the order of weeks to a few months. This is because mercury, unless eliminated, quickly becomes tightly bound to sulfhydryl-containing enzymes and other proteins in the liver, kidney, lining of the gastrointestinal tract, and brain. So, if any amount of time has elapsed after a significant mercury exposure, little if any mercury will be detected in the blood, urine or hair.
Originally posted here:
Autism Treatments: Mercury Chelation for the Treatment of ...