REGULAR ARTICLE

No evidence for a clear link between active intestinal inflammation and autism based on analyses of faecal calprotectin and rectal nitric oxide

  1. Elisabeth Fernell1,
  2. Ulrika L Fagerberg2,
  3. Per M Hellström3

Article first published online: 27 APR 2007

DOI: 10.1111/j.1651-2227.2007.00298.x

Issue

Acta Paediatrica

Acta Paediatrica

Volume 96, Issue 7, pages 1076–1079, July 2007

Additional Information

How to Cite

Fernell, E., Fagerberg, U. L. and Hellström, P. M. (2007), No evidence for a clear link between active intestinal inflammation and autism based on analyses of faecal calprotectin and rectal nitric oxide. Acta Paediatrica, 96: 1076–1079. doi: 10.1111/j.1651-2227.2007.00298.x

Author Information

  1. 1

    Department of Neuropaediatrics, Astrid Lindgren Children's Hospital, Karolinska Institutet, Karolinska University Hospital Solna, 171 76 Stockholm, Sweden

  2. 2

    Department of Paediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition, Astrid Lindgren Children's Hospital, Karolinska Institutet, Karolinska University Hospital Solna, 171 76 Stockholm, Sweden

  3. 3

    Department of Medicine, Unit of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Karolinska Institutet, Karolinska University Hospital Solna, 171 76 Stockholm, Sweden

*Correspondence Elisabeth Fernell, M.D., Ph.D., Department of Neuropaediatrics, Astrid Lindgren Children's Hospital, Karolinska Institutet, Karolinska University Hospital Solna, 171 76 Stockholm, Sweden. Tel: +46 8 51770000 | Fax: +46 8 51777608 | Email: elisabeth.fernell@karolinska.se

Publication History

  1. Issue published online: 27 APR 2007
  2. Article first published online: 27 APR 2007
  3. Received , 22 November 2006; revised 22 February 2007; accepted 27 February 2007.

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Keywords:

  • Autism;
  • Intestinal inflammation;
  • Nitric oxide;
  • Calprotectin

Abstract

Aim: Due to parental concern regarding the child's bowel habits and the ongoing discussion whether there might be an association between autism and intestinal inflammation, two inflammatory markers were analysed in a group of children with autism.

Methods: Twenty-four consecutive children with autism (3–13 years) of unknown aetiology were investigated with respect to faecal calprotectin and rectal nitric oxide (NO).

Results: One child who previously had a severe Clostridium difficile infection displayed raised levels of both these inflammatory markers and one child with extreme constipation for whom only calprotectin was possible to measure had raised levels. The remaining children displayed results that did not indicate an active inflammatory status in the intestine when the two inflammatory markers were combined.

Conclusion: By the use of two independent markers of inflammatory reactions in the gut, i.e. rectal NO and faecal calprotectin we were not able to disclose evidence of a link between the autistic disorder and active intestinal inflammation.

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