Journal of Clinical Toxicology
Open Access
ISSN: 2161-0495
+44 1478 350008
ISSN: 2161-0495
+44 1478 350008
Sohayla M. Attalla, Afaf M Attia, Salwa, M. Tobar and Eman A. El-Sheshtawy
AcceptedAbstracts: J Clinic Toxicol
A utism is a severe developmental disorder which involves social withdrawal, communication deficits, and stereotypic/ repetitive behavior. Recent clinical survey of patient records from autism spectrum disorders (ASD) children under the age of 6 years and their age-matched controls revealed evidence of abnormal markers of thiol metabolism, as well as a significant alteration in deposition of several heavy metal species, particularly arsenic, mercury, copper, and iron in hair samples between the groups. As a preliminary step in understanding the possible role of some metals in the etiology of autism, this study aims at detecting the difference in the level of mercury, lead, copper and zinc in the hair of autistic children versus normal control group and whether the levels of these substances are correlated with severity of autism or not. Patients and control group were matched regarding the age (nearly 4 years old). Results showed the lead and copper levels were significantly higher in cases (9.75 � 1.8 μg/ mg and 26.5 � 1.9 μg/mg respectively) than in control (6.8 � 0.86 μg/mg and 19.1 � 4.4 μg/mg respectively) while, mercury and zinc levels were significantly lower in cases (0.55 � 0.06 μg/mg and 304.99 � 25.8 μg/mg respectively) than in control (3.2 � 0.2 μg/mg and 419.5 � 45.96 μg/mg respectively). There was positive correlation of Child Autism Rating Scale (CARS) score and both mercury and copper levels while; Intelligence Quotient (IQ) has significant negative correlation with hair lead level. Zinc level does not correlate with either CARS score or IQ. These preliminary results suggest a complementary role for the studied elements in the pathogenesis of autistic disorder which should be considered in the management plane
Sohayla M Attalla is an assistant Prof. at the Faculty of Medicine, Mansoura University, Egypt. She has a M.D. in Forensic Medicine and Clinical Toxicology, Faculty of Medicine , Mansoura University, Egypt,2006, diploma in Health Care Quality Management, Cambridge Training College Britain, 2008 and diploma in health organization administration, Faculty of Commerce, Mansoura University, Egypt and. Her main research interests are currently in environmental pollution and toxicity and their relation to chronic health problems. She also interested in medicolegal implication of health problems (the relation between medical malpractice and ethics). She is member of TIAFT (the international association of forensic toxicology), TAAFCT (the Arabic association of forensic and clinical toxicology), quality assurance and accreditation unit in Faculty of Medicine, Mansoura University, the Egyptian association of environmental toxicology, the Egyptian association of natural toxins, the Poineers society for development of human resources and health improvement society