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Abstract
A prospective, blinded study evaluated the relationship between autism spectrum disorder (ASD) severity measured by Childhood Autism Rating Scale (CARS) scores and urinary porphyrins among a cohort of participants (n = 26). LabCorp (CLIA-approved) tested for uroporphyrins, heptacarboxylporphyrins, hexacarboxylporphyrins, pentacarboxylporphyrins, coproporphyrin (cP) I, and cP III levels. Participants with severe ASD had significantly increased cP I, cP III, and total cP levels in comparison to participants with mild ASD. A significant correlation was observed between increasing cP levels and CARS scores. Significant correlations were also noted for comparative urinary porphyrin testing between LabCorp and the Laboratoire Philippe Auguste (ISO-approved) for total cP. Finally, total cP measured at LabCorp was found to significantly correlate with precoproporphryin (a specific porphyrin marker for mercury toxicity) measured at the Laboratoire Philippe Auguste. Since urinary porphyrin testing is clinically available, relatively inexpensive, and noninvasive, it may be used to help suggest whether heavy metal toxicity is associated with ASD.
Acknowledgements
This research was funded by a grant from the Autism Research Institute, nonprofit CoMeD, Inc., and by the nonprofit Institute of Chronic Illnesses, Inc., through a grant from the Brenen Hornstein Autism Research & Education (BHARE) Foundation. David Geier, Janet Kern, and Mark Geier have been involved in vaccine/biologic litigation. None of the authors of the present study have any financial interest in the laboratories utilized for testing. The authors acknowledge the generous help of Brandon Work at LabCorp, Dallas. The authors acknowledge the help of the parents and children who participated in the study; without their participation this type of investigation would not be possible. The authors acknowledge the assistance of Dr. Paul G. King to help review and edit this study.
