Are there enhanced MBP autoantibodies in autism?

Lancioni et al. (2008) drew blood from three groups: children with classic autism, children with regressive autism, and children with Tourette syndrome. They also took blood from healthy kids to serve as controls. The lab then measured autoantibodies that attack myelin basic protein, the insulation around nerve wires.

Kids who lost skills after age one had slightly higher anti-MBP levels than kids with classic autism or Tourette syndrome. However, none of the groups differed from healthy controls. The authors concluded these antibodies are not a useful autism marker.

Porter et al. (2008) tested BDNF in banked pregnancy and newborn blood and also found no autism signal, showing the null result spans two body fluids and time points.

Marcell et al. (1988) measured indoleacetic acid in spinal fluid decades earlier and reached the same blank outcome, proving this is a long-running pattern.

Chezan et al. (2019) added newborn vitamin D to the list of failed blood markers, reinforcing that none of these analytes distinguish autism from controls.

Stop chasing blood-based biomarkers for autism. The money you save can go toward functional assessments and skill-building programs that actually guide treatment. When parents ask about special labs, show them this string of null papers and pivot to what matters: teaching communication, play, and daily living skills.