A review of the research to identify the most effective models of practice in early intervention for children with autism spectrum disorders
Chelation: (DMSA, lipoic acid, clay baths and natural chelating agents.)
- Glossary of terms
Executive summary- Context of the review
- Biologically based interventions
Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM)- Psychodynamic interventions
- Overview of educational interventions
- Behavioural interventions
- Developmental interventions
- Therapy based interventions
- Sensory motor interventions
- Combined interventions
- Other interventions
- Family based interventions
- Costs-benefits of treatment programs
- Comparative evaluation of educational/behavioural programs for children with autism
- Educational placement of children with autism
- References
- Appendices
- A survey of service providers of early intervention for children with autism and their families in Australia
There are no published peer review publications regarding the efficacy of chelation agents for the treatment of autism. It is known that up to a third of children with autism may present with apparent regression in milestones in their second year of life, and from this arose the proposed theory of immunisation as a cause for the regression and autism. One of the reasons immunisation was blamed was due to the Thimerosal, which is an ethyl mercury derivative used to stabilise killed virus vaccination packaged in multi-dosed vials. It is important to note that the live virus vaccines like the trivalent measles, mumps, rubella vaccine do not contain Thimerosal. Thimerosal is no longer present in childhood vaccines except in the DT influenza vaccine. In Australia, even when thiomersal-containing vaccines were being used in the past, the maximum possible number of doses of thiomersal-containing vaccines was six (two doses of triple antigen, two doses of hepatitis B, two doses of lyophilised pedvax Hib), giving a maximum mercury dose below the WHO limit of 3.3 µg/kg per week (MacIntyre & Leask, 2003).
Thimerosal was removed from childhood vaccines in Denmark in 1992. This allowed (Madsen, Lauritsen, & Pederson, 2003) to examine the rate of reported autism before and after this change in practice. The rate of reported autism began increasing before Thimerosal was removed from the childhood vaccines and this trend continued on the same upward trajectory after the removal of Thimerosal. No associations were identified and causality could not be implied. In the case of documented lead poisoning with neurological complications, chelation of the lead has not been shown to improve neurological function. Renal and hepatic toxicity must be monitored with DSMA chelation. Due to the lack of evidence and the potential significant harm and toxicity, this intervention should be viewed with extreme caution.