Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder and Neurodevelopmental Regression Present a Severe Pattern After a Follow-Up at 24 Months

Abstract

This study examined the presence of neurodevelopmental regression and its effects on the clinical manifestations and the severity of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in a group of children with autism compared with those without neurodevelopmental regression at the time of initial classification and subsequently.Methods and Subjects: ASD patients were classified into two subgroups, neurodevelopmental regressive (AMR) and non-regressive (ANMR), using a questionnaire based on the Autism Diagnostic Interview-Revised test. The severity of ASD and neurodevelopment were assessed with the Childhood Autism Rating Scale Test-2, Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire, and Pervasive Developmental Disorders Behavior Inventory Parent Ratings (PDDBI) and with the Battelle Developmental Inventory tests at the beginning of the study and after 24 months of follow-up. Fifty-two patients aged 2–6 years with ASD were included. Nineteen were classified with AMR, and 33 were classified with ANMR.Results: The AMR subgroup presented greater severity of autistic symptoms and higher autism scores. Additionally, they showed lower overall neurodevelopment. The AMR subgroup at 24 months had poorer scores on the Battelle Developmental Inventory test in the following areas: Total personal/social (p < 0.03), Total Motor (p < 0.04), Expressive (p < 0.01), and Battelle Total (p < 0.04). On the PDDBI test, the AMR subgroup had scores indicating significantly more severe ASD symptoms in the variables: ritual score (p < 0.038), social approach behaviors (p < 0.048), expressive language (p < 0.002), and autism score (p < 0.003).Conclusions: ASD patients exhibited a set of different neurological phenotypes. The AMR and ANMR subgroups presented different clinical manifestations and prognoses in terms of the severity of autistic symptoms and neurodevelopment.

The Role of SNAP-25 in Autism Spectrum Disorders Onset Patterns

“…Although the mechanism leading to regression in children with ASD is still unclear, its negative prognostic role has been clearly demonstrated. Recently, Martin-Borreguero et al [ 55 ] showed that children with RO-ASD had significantly higher core autistic symptoms and lower linguistic and social skills at 24-month follow-up. These children were also characterized by significantly worse adaptive functioning scores, both at diagnosis and 24 months later, and needed more intensive support and rehabilitative interventions.…”

A Multi-Center Study on the Relationship Between Developmental Regression and Disease Severity in Children With Autism Spectrum Disorders

“…Recently, a small-sample prospective study conducted by Martin et al also found that the regression group and the non-regression group showed different clinical manifestations and prognosis in terms of the severity of autism symptoms and neurodevelopment ( 29 ). The regression group in the initial investigation showed more severe ASD symptoms and lower overall developmental levels.…”

Dietary Patterns, Eating Behavior, and Nutrient Intakes of Spanish Preschool Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders

“…rules of Law 14/2007 on Biomedical Research and the Organic Law 15/1999, RD 1720/2007 on the protection of personal data as well as international rules for research using samples from human beings. Part of this project's results has been published elsewhere [52,[77][78][79].…”