Thimerosal exposure in infants and neurodevelopmental disorders: an assessment of computerized medical records in the Vaccine Safety Datalink.

Abstract

The study evaluated possible associations between neurodevelopmental disorders (NDs) and exposure to mercury (Hg) from Thimerosal-containing vaccines (TCVs) by examining the automated Vaccine Safety Datalink (VSD). A total of 278,624 subjects were identified in birth cohorts from 1990-1996 that had received their first oral polio vaccination by 3 months of age in the VSD. The birth cohort prevalence rate of medically diagnosed International Classification of Disease, 9th revision (ICD-9) specific NDs and control outcomes were calculated. Exposures to Hg from TCVs were calculated by birth cohort for specific exposure windows from birth-7 months and birth-13 months of age. Poisson regression analysis was used to model the association between the prevalence of outcomes and Hg doses from TCVs. Consistent significantly increased rate ratios were observed for autism, autism spectrum disorders, tics, attention deficit disorder, and emotional disturbances with Hg exposure from TCVs. By contrast, none of the control outcomes had significantly increased rate ratios with Hg exposure from TCVs. Routine childhood vaccination should be continued to help reduce the morbidity and mortality associated with infectious diseases, but efforts should be undertaken to remove Hg from vaccines. Additional studies should be conducted to further evaluate the relationship between Hg exposure and NDs.

• Authors: Heather A Young, David A Geier, Mark R Geier
• Journal: Journal of the neurological sciences (J Neurol Sci) Vol. 271 Issue 1-2 Pg. 110-8 (Aug 15 2008) ISSN: 0022-510X [Print] Netherlands
• PMID: 18482737 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Preservatives, Pharmaceutical
• Vaccines
• Thimerosal

Topics

• Adolescent
• Child
• Child Development Disorders, Pervasive (chemically induced, epidemiology)
• Child, Preschool
• Cohort Studies
• Developmental Disabilities (chemically induced, epidemiology)
• Evaluation Studies as Topic
• Female
• Humans
• Infant
• Male
• Medical Records Systems, Computerized (statistics & numerical data)
• Preservatives, Pharmaceutical (adverse effects)
• Proportional Hazards Models
• Retrospective Studies
• Thimerosal (adverse effects)
• Vaccines (adverse effects, therapeutic use)