Lack of Association between Anti‐Phospholipid Antibodies (APLA) and Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) in Children

Abstract

Numerous studies have shown the pathological influence anti-phospholipid antibodies (APLA) have on the physiology of the single neuron as well as the function of the entire human nervous system. The influence is well demonstrated in the antiphospholipid syndrome (APS). This syndrome is characterized by a triad of arterial or venous thrombotic events, recurrent fetal loss and thrombocytopenic purpura. The syndrome exhibits different neurological pathologies such as: chorea, seizures, transverse myelopathy, migraine, cerebral ataxia, hemiballismus and transient global amnesia, which are not fully explained by the procoagulopathic trait of APLA. A study on mice induced with APS demonstrated hyperactive behavior when compared to the control group. The information gathered from these different studies raised the question whether APLA has any part in the etiology of Attention Deficit/Hyperactive Disorder (ADHD) in children.We compared 41 children diagnosed with ADHD to a control of 28 healthy children. Blood drawn from the two groups was screened using ELISA for the presence of anti-cardiolipin antibodies, antib2GP antibodies, anti-phosphatidyleserine antibodies and anti-ethanolamine antibodies. The results show no significant difference in the level of antiphospholipid antibodies (APLA) measured between the children diagnosed with ADHD and the control group.

Neuropsychological development of children born to patients with antiphospholipid syndrome

“…Children were described by the mothers during the interviews as having a generally good psychological outcome without a shared personality trait; however, 2 of 15 children were described as hyperactive. According to the literature, the occurrence of attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in mice is supposedly induced by the presence of aPL; on the contrary, in a study of 41 children affected by ADHD, no evidence of a relationship between this condition and aPL was reported (31).…”

Comorbidity of Allergic and Autoimmune Diseases Among Patients With ADHD

“…In a study on mice induced with antiphospholipid (APL) syndrome using monoclonal anticardiolipin antibodies, Ziporen, Shoenfeld, Levy, and Korczyn (1997) reported that the mice exhibited hyperactive behavior compared with the control group. The results of a human study by Bujanover et al (2003) did not support this association and suggested no significant difference in the level of APL antibody measured between the ADHD children and the controls. Although there was some evidence supporting the possible role of autoimmunity in ADHD, the results were still controversial.…”