Familial autoimmune thyroid disease as a risk factor for regression in children with Autism Spectrum Disorder: a CPEA Study.
Ask about family history of autoimmune thyroid disease—kids with ASD who regress are twice as likely to have it.
01Research in Context
What this study did
The team asked parents of the children with autism about family health history.
They compared kids who had lost early words or skills to kids who had not.
All families were part of the CPEA autism research network.
What they found
Children who regressed were almost twice as likely to have relatives with autoimmune thyroid disease.
The link stayed strong even after the researchers counted other health issues.
No other autoimmune illness in the family showed the same pattern.
How this fits with other research
Mount et al. (2011) saw no sibling clustering for regression, but they looked only inside autism families.
Warnes et al. (2005) found that regression history did not predict IQ at age three.
Their short follow-up window may explain why they missed longer-term immune links.
Kaiser et al. (2022) later showed kids with autism also face higher bowel disease risk, widening the immune picture.
Why it matters
Add one quick question to your intake: “Any family thyroid problems?” A yes flag can guide closer developmental tracking. It also gives families a concrete medical clue and may speed referrals to pediatric endocrinology if new symptoms appear.
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02At a glance
03Original abstract
A multicenter study of 308 children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) was conducted through the Collaborative Programs of Excellence in Autism (CPEA), sponsored by the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, to compare the family history of autoimmune disorders in children with ASD with and without a history of regression. A history of regression was determined from the results of the Autism Diagnostic Interview-Revised (ADI-R). Family history of autoimmune disorders was obtained by telephone interview. Regression was significantly associated with a family history of autoimmune disorders (adjusted OR=1.89; 95% CI: 1.17, 3.10). The only specific autoimmune disorder found to be associated with regression was autoimmune thyroid disease (adjusted OR=2.09; 95% CI: 1.28, 3.41).
Journal of autism and developmental disorders, 2006 · doi:10.1007/s10803-005-0071-0