Abstract
Background and Aims: The controversial issue of the early human exposure to mercury compounds is ethylmercury, which is present in the thimerosal-containing vaccines (TCV). The objective of this analysis was to determine an association of TCVs exposure during the first 2 years of life with the risk of autism.
Methods: Study population included 96 cases diagnosed with childhood or atypical autism and 192 controls matched individually by year of birth, gender, and physician's practice. Data on autism diagnose and vaccination history were from GPs. Data on the other possible autism risk factors were collected from mothers. Logistic conditional regression was used to assess the risk of autism due to TCVs exposure.
Results: No significant association was found between TCVs exposure and autism. After adjusting to potential confounders, odds ratios of the risk of autism developing for infants vaccinated with TCVs were 1.33 (95%CI:0.52-3.39) for vaccination during the first 28 days, and 1.90 (95%CI:0.38-9.38) during the first six months of life.
Conclusion: Our study revealed no evidence of an association between TCVs and autism. Furthermore, there was no indication of a dose-response association between the thimerosal exposure and the risk of autism.
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Mrozek-Budzyn, D., Kieltyka, A., Majewska, R. et al. Lack of Association between Thimerosal-Containing Vaccines and Autism: A Case-Control Study in Poland. Pediatr Res 70 (Suppl 5), 339 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1038/pr.2011.564
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/pr.2011.564