The Lurie Center for Autism invites you to join Christopher J. McDougle, MD for a presentation and discussion on the relationship between autoimmune disorders in biological relatives and having a child with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Evidence for this possible association will be presented. Common autoimmune disorders, including multiple sclerosis (MS), Lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, type 1 diabetes mellitus, psoriasis/eczema, Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis, and thyroid disease will be discussed. The possible clinical presentation of an individual with immune-related ASD will be discussed; potential clinical comorbidities include gastrointestinal disorders, seizure disorders, and sleep disorders. Finally, we will present a new study being conducted at the Lurie Center for Autism that addresses the possible relationship between familial autoimmune disorders and ASD. |