Scientific publications
Anti-Basal Ganglia Antibodies and Streptococcal Infection in ADHD. Scientific Publication
Aguilera-Albesa S(1), Crespo-Eguílaz N(2), Del Pozo JL(2), Villoslada P(3), Sánchez-Carpintero R(2).
OBJECTIVE:
Group A Streptococcus has been associated with ADHD, tic disorders (TD), and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) through anti-basal ganglia antibodies (ABGA).
METHOD:
We investigated the association between ABGA and streptococcal exposure with behavioral, motor, and cognitive measures in 38 children with ADHD not comorbid to OCD or TD (nc-ADHD) and in 38 healthy children. An additional group of 15 children with TD and/or OCD was examined.
RESULTS:
ABGA titers were present in 3% of nc-ADHD patients and controls but in 27% of TD and/or OCD patients. Evidence of streptococcal exposure was similar between ADHD patients and controls living in the same urban area. Behavioral, motor, and cognitive measures were not associated with anti-streptococcal antibodies.
CONCLUSION:
ABGA do not distinguish nc-ADHD from controls. The differences in the frequency of streptococcal exposure in previous studies are determined by the dynamic nature of the infection rather than the behavioral phenotype of ADHD.
CITATION J Atten Disord. 2015 Apr 16. pii: 1087054715580841.
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