BMJ 2001;323:163 ( 21 July )

Letters

Measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine and autism

    Ecological studies cannot answer main question
    Argument is too simplistic
    MMR cannot be exonerated without explaining increased incidence of autism
    Authors' reply

Ecological studies cannot answer main question

The first 150 words of the full text of this article appear below.

EDITOR---Kaye et al undertook an ecological study comparing the time trend in measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine coverage with the time trend in diagnoses of autism.1 They found a marked increase in the incidence of codes for autism in children's electronic general practice records over 11 years.

We agree with their conclusion that MMR cannot be the cause of this observed increase since the vaccine coverage remained constant over the same time. There have been changes in the classification of autistic diseases and in the likelihood of case ascertainment in recent years, and a more rigorous review of cases may clarify whether some of the increase was due to alterations in diagnostic practice.2 Only 81% of cases were reported to have been referred to a specialist, raising questions about the validity of the diagnoses used by Kaye et al. Children with medical conditions present from birth and . . . [Full text of this article]
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Relevant Article

Mumps, measles, and rubella vaccine and the incidence of autism recorded by general practitioners: a time trend analysis
James A Kaye, Maria del Mar Melero-Montes, and Hershel Jick
BMJ 2001 322: 460-463. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

This article has been cited by other articles:

  • Tidmarsh, L. (2003). There is little evidence that combined vaccination against measles, mumps, and rubella is associated with autism. Evid. Based Ment. Health 6: 62-62 [Full text]  
  • Madsen, K. M., Hviid, A., Vestergaard, M., Schendel, D., Wohlfahrt, J., Thorsen, P., Olsen, J., Melbye, M. (2002). A Population-Based Study of Measles, Mumps, and Rubella Vaccination and Autism. NEJM 347: 1477-1482 [Abstract] [Full text]  
  • Majeed, A. (2001). Referral of Dr Peter Mansfield to the GMC. BMJ 323: 356-356 [Full text]  

Rapid Responses:

Read all Rapid Responses

MMR and Brain Damage
Alan Challoner MA MChS
bmj.com, 30 Apr 2003 [Full text]
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