Abstract
Two recent studies, from France (CitationNataf et al., 2006) and the United States (CitationGeier & Geier, 2007), identified atypical urinary porphyrin profiles in children with an autism spectrum disorder (ASD). These profiles serve as an indirect measure of environmental toxicity generally, and mercury (Hg) toxicity specifically, with the latter being a variable proposed as a causal mechanism of ASD (CitationBernard et al., 2001; CitationMutter et al., 2005). To examine whether this phenomenon occurred in a sample of Australian children with ASD, an analysis of urinary porphyrin profiles was conducted. A consistent trend in abnormal porphyrin levels was evidenced when data was compared with those previously reported in the literature. The results are suggestive of environmental toxic exposure impairing heme synthesis. Three independent studies from three continents have now demonstrated that porphyrinuria is concomitant with ASD, and that Hg may be a likely xenobiotic to produce porphyrin profiles of this nature.
We are indebted to Dr. Richard Lathe (Pieta Research, Edinburgh, UK) and Dr. Elisabeth Minder (Swiss Porphyrin Reference Laboratory SGKC/IFCC, Stadtspital Triemli, Zürich, Switzerland) for providing their original data for reanalysis.