J
john
Guest
Does this troubled teenager prove there IS a link between MMR
injections and autism?
Daily Mail Dec 20, 2002
A BOY who changed from being bright and chatty to mute and disturbed
after having the MMR vaccine as a toddler could be the 'missing link'
which proves the combined jab causes autism.
Tests on James Sinclair, now 13, have found the measles virus - which
is known to cause brain damage - in the fluid surrounding his brain
and inside his spine.
His mother Anna says she watched helplessly as his personality changed
after being given the combined measles, mumps and rubella vaccine.
The discovery of the measles virus inside his cerebro-spinal fluid is
the most compelling evidence yet to support the theory that the MMR
jab could lead to autism.
Experts believe the virus from the injection travelled from his blood
- where it is supposed to stay in order to produce immunity - into his
spinal fluid, where it attacked his brain.
Two leading neurologists who have studied James's case believe MMR is
responsible for causing brain damage which sparked his autism.
Fears of a link have led to record numbers of parents shunning the
MMR jab, resulting in warnings that Britan is facing a growing threat
of measles outbreaks.
But further scientific tests which could definitively prove a causal
link have stalled because the Government is refusing to fund a legal
challenge against the manufacturers of the vaccine.
The teenager is among those suing vaccine manufacturers for
compensation in a landmark legal battle, which is currently on hold
after legal aid was withdrawn.
Solicitors representing James and six other 'lead' cases will launch
another court fight to try to reinstate legal aid in the New Year.
Yesterday, his mother Anna Sinclair, of Evesham, Worcestershire,
said: 'My son's body is suffused with the measles virus. It is in his
brain. What is it doing there?
'He has never had measles - only the MMR jab. There is no other
logical explanation for the presence of this virus in his spinal fluid
other than the MMR jab.'
Other tests have also shown that the measles virus is in James's blood
and inside bowel tissue.
MRS Sinclair, 39, a marketing officer whose marriage collapsed under
the strain of caring for James, added: 'I feel very strongly it needs
to be investigated further. I want to know exactly what is wrong with
my son in the hope that there may be something that can be done to
make him better.
'He is a lovely boy, but from the moment he had the vaccine he changed
forever.'
James is diagnosed as having 'atypical' autism, in that he can
maintain eye contact and show affection. But he is only able to make
basic noises to display his emotions and displays erratic behaviour
such as refusing to wear clothes and ripping up belongings.
Paediatric neurologist Dr Marcel Kinsbourne, a professor of cognitive
studies at Tufts University in Massachusetts and the New School
University, New York, is planning to give evidence supporting the
claim that MMR caused James's autism.
He is backed by another eminent neurologist, Professor John Menkes,
emeritus professor of neurology and paediatrics at the University of
California in Los Angeles.
Yesterday, solicitor Richard Barr, of law firm Alexander Harris, which
is representing the families in their compensation bid, said: 'I have
talked to leading virologists and they say you should never find
measles virus in the brain and it is a clear indication that it has
caused damage. 'It is the equivalent of finding the smoking gun and
the bullet.' Brain damage is already known to be a risk of suffering
measles infection.
At the age of 15 months, just before he was given a first dose of MMR,
James was able to talk in short sentences and enjoyed singing nursery
rhymes.
After the first injection in 1992, he became withdrawn, lethargic and
stopped speaking.
Mrs Sinclair, who has two other children Jack, 14, and Rory, eight,
said: 'He had a temperature and became very withdrawn. He would also
take my hand and press it to his head. It was as if he was trying to
tell me he had a terrible headache.'
James was mistakenly given a second dose of MMR vaccine, just over a
year later, instead of the Hib vaccine against a pneumococcal
infection.
'That seemed to compound things,' said Mrs Sinclair. 'He was
struggling to find words, he would scream for hours on end.'
A sample of spinal fluid was taken from James and six other children
involved in the MMR court case in a hospital in Detroit last year.
No NHS or private hospital in the UK would carry out the tests.
PROFESSOR John O'Leary, of Trinity College in Dublin, then carried
out screening at his private firm Unigenetics and found the measles
virus in three samples of spinal fluid. Crucially, one of these
contained an MMR strain of measles.
In the case of James and another child, doctors were unable to
identify the strain of the virus. Further tests are needed.
However, control studies on spinal fluid samples from 19 children
with leukaemia found only one case with measles virus in spinal fluid.
Children with leukaemia may be more susceptible to viruses due to
their illness.
Three drug firms - Glaxo-SmithKline, Merck and Co and Aventis Pasteur
MSD - are being sued over the MMR jab.
The case is seen as a crucial test of whether MMR is safe.'
The Legal Services Commission, which provides legal aid, decided to
withdraw funding in September. Some £15million had already been spent
pursuing the case. A further £l0million was thought to be needed to
bring the case to court.
A spokesman said: 'This was the first case in which research had been
funded by legal aid.
'In retrospect it was not effective or appropriate for the LSC to fund
research. The courts are not the place to prove medical truths.'
The Department of Health said it could not comment on any research
which had discovered measles virus in spinal fluid until it had been
independently reviewed.
A spokesman said: 'We want to see parents given the facts - that there
is no credible scientific evidence showing an association between MMR
and autism.
'It remains the best form of protection for your child.'
[email protected]
injections and autism?
Daily Mail Dec 20, 2002
A BOY who changed from being bright and chatty to mute and disturbed
after having the MMR vaccine as a toddler could be the 'missing link'
which proves the combined jab causes autism.
Tests on James Sinclair, now 13, have found the measles virus - which
is known to cause brain damage - in the fluid surrounding his brain
and inside his spine.
His mother Anna says she watched helplessly as his personality changed
after being given the combined measles, mumps and rubella vaccine.
The discovery of the measles virus inside his cerebro-spinal fluid is
the most compelling evidence yet to support the theory that the MMR
jab could lead to autism.
Experts believe the virus from the injection travelled from his blood
- where it is supposed to stay in order to produce immunity - into his
spinal fluid, where it attacked his brain.
Two leading neurologists who have studied James's case believe MMR is
responsible for causing brain damage which sparked his autism.
Fears of a link have led to record numbers of parents shunning the
MMR jab, resulting in warnings that Britan is facing a growing threat
of measles outbreaks.
But further scientific tests which could definitively prove a causal
link have stalled because the Government is refusing to fund a legal
challenge against the manufacturers of the vaccine.
The teenager is among those suing vaccine manufacturers for
compensation in a landmark legal battle, which is currently on hold
after legal aid was withdrawn.
Solicitors representing James and six other 'lead' cases will launch
another court fight to try to reinstate legal aid in the New Year.
Yesterday, his mother Anna Sinclair, of Evesham, Worcestershire,
said: 'My son's body is suffused with the measles virus. It is in his
brain. What is it doing there?
'He has never had measles - only the MMR jab. There is no other
logical explanation for the presence of this virus in his spinal fluid
other than the MMR jab.'
Other tests have also shown that the measles virus is in James's blood
and inside bowel tissue.
MRS Sinclair, 39, a marketing officer whose marriage collapsed under
the strain of caring for James, added: 'I feel very strongly it needs
to be investigated further. I want to know exactly what is wrong with
my son in the hope that there may be something that can be done to
make him better.
'He is a lovely boy, but from the moment he had the vaccine he changed
forever.'
James is diagnosed as having 'atypical' autism, in that he can
maintain eye contact and show affection. But he is only able to make
basic noises to display his emotions and displays erratic behaviour
such as refusing to wear clothes and ripping up belongings.
Paediatric neurologist Dr Marcel Kinsbourne, a professor of cognitive
studies at Tufts University in Massachusetts and the New School
University, New York, is planning to give evidence supporting the
claim that MMR caused James's autism.
He is backed by another eminent neurologist, Professor John Menkes,
emeritus professor of neurology and paediatrics at the University of
California in Los Angeles.
Yesterday, solicitor Richard Barr, of law firm Alexander Harris, which
is representing the families in their compensation bid, said: 'I have
talked to leading virologists and they say you should never find
measles virus in the brain and it is a clear indication that it has
caused damage. 'It is the equivalent of finding the smoking gun and
the bullet.' Brain damage is already known to be a risk of suffering
measles infection.
At the age of 15 months, just before he was given a first dose of MMR,
James was able to talk in short sentences and enjoyed singing nursery
rhymes.
After the first injection in 1992, he became withdrawn, lethargic and
stopped speaking.
Mrs Sinclair, who has two other children Jack, 14, and Rory, eight,
said: 'He had a temperature and became very withdrawn. He would also
take my hand and press it to his head. It was as if he was trying to
tell me he had a terrible headache.'
James was mistakenly given a second dose of MMR vaccine, just over a
year later, instead of the Hib vaccine against a pneumococcal
infection.
'That seemed to compound things,' said Mrs Sinclair. 'He was
struggling to find words, he would scream for hours on end.'
A sample of spinal fluid was taken from James and six other children
involved in the MMR court case in a hospital in Detroit last year.
No NHS or private hospital in the UK would carry out the tests.
PROFESSOR John O'Leary, of Trinity College in Dublin, then carried
out screening at his private firm Unigenetics and found the measles
virus in three samples of spinal fluid. Crucially, one of these
contained an MMR strain of measles.
In the case of James and another child, doctors were unable to
identify the strain of the virus. Further tests are needed.
However, control studies on spinal fluid samples from 19 children
with leukaemia found only one case with measles virus in spinal fluid.
Children with leukaemia may be more susceptible to viruses due to
their illness.
Three drug firms - Glaxo-SmithKline, Merck and Co and Aventis Pasteur
MSD - are being sued over the MMR jab.
The case is seen as a crucial test of whether MMR is safe.'
The Legal Services Commission, which provides legal aid, decided to
withdraw funding in September. Some £15million had already been spent
pursuing the case. A further £l0million was thought to be needed to
bring the case to court.
A spokesman said: 'This was the first case in which research had been
funded by legal aid.
'In retrospect it was not effective or appropriate for the LSC to fund
research. The courts are not the place to prove medical truths.'
The Department of Health said it could not comment on any research
which had discovered measles virus in spinal fluid until it had been
independently reviewed.
A spokesman said: 'We want to see parents given the facts - that there
is no credible scientific evidence showing an association between MMR
and autism.
'It remains the best form of protection for your child.'
[email protected]