Fri Aug 26, 2005 2:23 am   Reply with quote      

Perhaps they should have just left him alone!

By JENNIFER C. YATES, Associated Press Writer
Thu Aug 25, 8:12 PM ET



PITTSBURGH - An autistic boy died after receiving an unproven treatment that some people believe may cure the neurological and developmental disorder.

Officials said they do not know for sure what killed Abubakar Tariq Nadama, 5, who died Tuesday after suffering a heart attack following his third treatment of chelation therapy at a suburban medical clinic.

The staff at his doctor's office performed CPR on the boy, but he was later pronounced dead in a hospital. More tests would be needed to determine the cause of death, said Deputy Coroner Larry Barr.

Chelation (pronounced key-LAY-tion) is often used in patients with sickle cell anemia, lead poisoning or other maladies. Its use dates to the 1940s.

The boy was undergoing the therapy at the Advanced Integrative Medicine Center in Portersville, about 35 miles northwest of Pittsburgh. Neither the boy's doctor, Roy E. Kerry, nor a representative from the center returned a call for comment Thursday.

State police also were investigating.

Some people believe autism can be linked to a mercury-containing preservative once commonly used in childhood vaccines. Chelation therapy has been advocated as a remedy because it causes heavy metals to leave the body through urine.

During the treatment, chemicals are administered under the skin or orally. The chemicals bind to heavy metals in the body, and patients excrete the chemicals through urine.

One of the most common uses for chelation is lead poisoning, in which a synthetic chemical called EDTA is given to patients. It's unclear exactly how many people undergo the treatment.

"There are thousands of patients getting chelation at home at night in many parts of the world. And it's generally considered quite safe," said Dr. Lakshmanan Krishnamurti, a pediatric hematologist and director of the Sickle Cell Program at Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh.

The Food and Drug Administration has approved chelation only for acute heavy-metal poisoning that is confirmed by blood tests. Critics call the treatment risky and say there isn't enough evidence to link autism to mercury or lead toxicity.

"If I were a parent considering it, I would probably stop considering it. There is no clear evidence that you can make kids better with this," said Dr. Gervasio A. Lamas, a cardiologist at the Mount Sinai Medical Center-Miami Heart Institute.

Lamas said the therapy comes with risks, including possible kidney damage and in some cases heart problems.

The boy's mother, Marwa Nadama, said she did not blame the therapy, but was waiting for results of an autopsy.

Fri Aug 26, 2005 4:26 am   Reply with quote      

If I understand correctly, number of autism patients is increasing; however, very little research has been done so far.

Sat Aug 27, 2005 12:43 am   Reply with quote      

I didn't know that the number was increasing. How scary! A few years ago I had to do a report on Austism, the level varies, and I know that no one 'wants' to have an ill child, and that it can be very heartbreaking and distressing.

At the same time, many autistic kids are blessed with gifts in many other areas of their lives.

Sat Aug 27, 2005 5:14 am   Reply with quote      

Balance in the society is being lost in US. I think that the fact that number of autism children is increasing is a reflection of this.