The possible link between the MMR inoculation and autism will be raised yet again this week in a presentation that claims to provide proof.
The combination vaccine of measles, mumps and rubella is given to young children and is widely supported by the medical profession.
According to the American researchers their study supports the findings of Dr. Andrew Wakefield, the discredited gastroenterologist who first raised fears that the MMR injection might be causing autism.
Following Dr. Wakefield suggestions that the MMR should be avoided in favour of single vaccinations uptake of the vaccine decreased sharply.
His research which was published in The Lancet in 1998, had apparently detected traces of the measles virus in the guts of 12 children with autism.
This latest study, led by Arthur Krigsman, of the New York University School of Medicine, involved 275 children and the researchers say that serious intestinal inflammations were found in some of the autistic children.
Biopsies of gut tissue were performed on 82 of the children and 70 are said to have shown evidence of the measles virus, which so far has been confirmed in 14 cases by more stringent DNA tests.
According to Steve Walker, assistant professor at Wake Forest University Medical Centre, North Carolina, who analysed the gut samples, the work mirrored Dr Wakefield’s study.
All of the children involved were diagnosed with autism and had seemingly gone to Dr. Krigsman and Dr. Walker seeking help for symptoms of serious digestive problems for which no explanation could be found.
The idea of a link between MMR and autism has been repeatedly tossed around in mainstream science and no evidence has ever been found to support it.