@article{2983955,
    title = "Brief report: "Allergic symptoms" in children with autism spectrum disorders. more than meets the eye?",
    author = "Angelidou, A. and Alysandratos, K.-D. and Asadi, S. and Zhang, B. and Francis, K. and Vasiadi, M. and Kalogeromitros, D. and Theoharides, T.C.",
    journal = "Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders",
    year = "2011",
    volume = "41",
    number = "11",
    pages = "1579-1585",
    issn = "0162-3257, 1573-3432",
    doi = "10.1007/s10803-010-1171-z",
    keywords = "corticotropin releasing factor;  immunoglobulin E;  monocyte chemotactic protein 1;  neurotensin;  toll like receptor 3;  toll like receptor 4;  transforming growth factor beta1, adaptive immunity;  allergy;  article;  asthma;  atopic dermatitis;  autism;  blood brain barrier;  cell activation;  cell function;  cerebrospinal fluid analysis;  disease association;  disease severity;  encephalitis;  environmental exposure;  family history;  food allergy;  human;  immune system;  immunoglobulin blood level;  infection;  innate immunity;  intestine;  intestine mucosa permeability;  mast cell;  mastocytosis;  neurotoxicity;  nutritional intolerance;  observational study;  priority journal;  protein binding;  rhinitis;  skin allergy;  skin test;  skin tingling;  stress;  urticaria;  wheezing, Brain;  Child;  Child Development Disorders, Pervasive;  Humans;  Hypersensitivity;  Mast Cells;  Mastocytosis;  Risk Factors",
    abstract = "Many children with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) have either family and/or personal history of "allergic symptomatology", often in the absence of positive skin or RAST tests. These symptoms may suggest mast cell activation by non-allergic triggers. Moreover, children with mastocytosis or mast cell activation syndrome (MCAS), a spectrum of rare diseases characterized by increased number of activated mast cells in many organs, appear to have ASD at a rate tenfold higher (1/10 children) than that of the general population (1/100 children). Mast cell activation by allergic, infectious, environmental and stress-related triggers, especially perinatally, would release pro-inflammatory and neurotoxic molecules. We speculate these could disrupt the gut-blood-brain barriers, thus contributing to brain inflammation and ASD pathogenesis. Increased mast cell responsiveness may define at least a subgroup of ASD subjects, who could benefit from inhibition of mast cell activation. © 2011 Springer Science+Business Media, LLC."
}