Authors
Payton JB, Steele MW, Wenger SL, Minshew NJ.
Title
The fragile X marker and autism in perspective.
Source
J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry 1989 May;28(3):417-21
Abstract
Recent reports link the fragile X chromosome abnormality to autism,
with the association ranging from 0 to 53%, but the diagnostic criteria
for autism were unclear in some of the studies. The need for fragile X chromosome
studies in larger populations of autistic children and adults was recognized.
In this study, chromosome analyses were performed on 85 carefully diagnosed
autistic males, yielding a 2.4% incidence of the fragile X abnormality.
It is concluded that the incidence of the fragile X chromosome abnormality
in autistic individuals is likely the same as that in the mentally retarded
male population and therefore does not increase the risk for autism above
that of mental retardation itself.