MMR and autism: further evidence against a causal association

The hypothesis that MMR vaccines cause autism was first raised by reports o f cases in which developmental regression occurred soon after MMR vaccinati on. A previous study found no evidence to support this hypothesis. It has r ecently been suggested that MMR vaccine might cause autism, but that the in duction interval need not be short. The data from the earlier study were re analysed to test this second hypothesis. Our results do not support this hy pothesis. and provide further evidence against a causal association between MMR vaccination and autism. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights rese rved.