Study indicates rh- mothers more likely to have autistic children

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When asking rh negative people what type of research they are interested in, the question whether or not there is a connection between autism and a mother being rh negative pops up again and again. And why wouldn’t it?

Why is there an autism epidemy in the US?

The autism epidemic began a few years after Rho(D)-immune globulin was first approved. And when we look at the suggestions regarding what may be the causation, it needs to be noted that in countries where Rho(D)-immune globulin is being given after the birth of an rh positive infant by an rh negative mother, no significant increase in autism has been noted. In the US the shot is being administered during the pregnancy. Since the autism epidemic happened in the US, we want to examine if Thimerosal could have been a cause as it can enter the fetus due to being administered to the mother while pregnant.
Pay attention now!

Rho(D)-immune globulin used to contain Aluminum or Mercury and then Thimerosal which is 49.55% Mercury by weight. Thanks to major concerns and lawsuits, things have been changed. But the question remains why there was an autism epidemic to begin with.

Let’s look at the one study I could find that hasn’t been removed (yet):

BACKGROUND: Many formulations of Thimerosal (49.55% mercury by weight)- containing Rho(D) immune globulins (TCRs) were routinely administered to Rh-negative mothers in the US prior to 2002.

So it is now important to examine the data based on the time when Thimerosal was being administered and the data regarding rh negative frequencies in mothers of children affected AFTER that period.

OBJECTIVES: It was hypothesized: (1) if prenatal Rho(D)-immune globulin preparation exposure was a risk factor for neurodevelopmental disorders (NDs) then more children with NDs would have Rh-negative mothers compared to controls; and (2) if Thimerosal in the Rho(D)-immune globulin preparations was the ingredient associated with NDs, following the removal of Thimerosal from all manufactured Rho(D)-immune globulin preparations from 2002 in the US the frequency of maternal Rh-negativity among children with NDs should be similar to control populations.

This website is to examine scientific data. We are not interested in claims unless you can back them up. You also have to be aware that every fetus has different levels of sensitivity. So it is always possible that something can affect one fetus but not another. Let’s look at the results:

RESULTS: There were significant and comparable increases in maternal Rh-negativity among children with NDs (Clinic: A=24.2%), autism spectrum disorders (Clinic: A=28.3%, B=25.3%), and attention-deficit-disorder/attention-deficithyperactivity-disorder (Clinic: A=26.3%) observed at both clinics in comparison to both control groups (Clinic: A=12.1%, B=13.9%) employed. Children with NDs born post-2001 had a maternal Rh-negativity frequency (13.6%) similar to controls.

The conclusion:

CONCLUSION: This study associates TCR exposure with some NDs in children

They continue to explain it in simpler language:

DISCUSSION
In the present study, an examination of the relationship
between maternal Rh-negativity, Rho(D)-immune
globulins, and NDs was undertaken. It was observed
that Caucasian children examined with NDs born
from 1987 through 2001 were significantly more likely
to have Rh-negative mothers than Caucasian children
without NDs born from 1987 through 2001 that presented
for outpatient pediatric care or among a series
of Caucasian mothers that presented for outpatient prenatal
genetics care from 1980 through 1989. It was also
observed that Rh-negativity among Caucasian children
with NDs born after 2001 had a similar frequency of
Rh-negative mothers as controls.

And then:

It is clear from these data that additional ND research
should be undertaken in the context of evaluating mercury-associated
exposures, especially from Thimerosalcontaining
Rho(D)-immune globulins administered
during pregnancy. Further studies should also be
undertaken in additional databases/registries to assess
the compatibility of the present results with trends in
NDs in other US populations, and to observe whether
Thimerosal-containing Rho(D)-immune globulins
were associated with other birth defects in children.

In short:

Children born before 2001 with neurodevelopmental disorders, autism spectrum disorders and attention-deficit-disorder/attention-deficithyperactivity-disorder are much more likely to have rh negative mothers according to this study. After Thimerosal was discontinued in 2002, this no longer appears to be the case.

The highest number is from clinic A where 28.3% of those with Autism Spectrum Disorders have rh- mothers vs. a control group of 12.1%. That is 2.34 times higher than it should be.

Are you an rh negative mother of an autistic child? Share your experiences. Give some advice!

See the study:

Neurodevelopmental Disorders, Maternal Rh-Negativity, and Rho(D) Immune Globulins: A Multi-Center Assessment

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15 Comments

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