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Despite the increase prevalence of autism spectrum disorders (ASD), the pathogenesis and therapeutic options for ASD remain poorly understood (Theoharides et al. 2012). In recent years, several reports have suggested the importance of brain inflammation in the pathogenesis of several psychiatric conditions (Theoharides et al. 2016). Among ASD patients, many develop worsening symptoms after vaccination, infections, toxins, or other environmental exposures suggesting an underlying immune dysregulation (Theoharides et al. 2016). Specifically, increased inflammatory cytokines, autoantibodies, and allergic responses reported in ASD patients suggest mast cells may have a prominent role in the onset and progression of ASD (Theoharides et al. 2016). Patients with increased mast cells have an increased prevalence of ASD and other cognitive deficits, suggesting an underlying mast cell hyperactivity among ASD patients (Theoharides 2013). Mast cells are bone...
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Kopel, J., Brower, G. (2019). Mast Cells and Autism. In: Volkmar, F. (eds) Encyclopedia of Autism Spectrum Disorders. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-6435-8_102299-1
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-6435-8_102299-1
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