Introduction: Autism spectrum disorders are neurodevelopmental dysfunctions that are characterised by deficits in social integration and communication, associated with restricted interests and stereotypic behaviour. A high percentage are related to language disorders, sensory dysfunctions, attention deficit disorder, bipolarity, intellectual disability or epilepsy, among other comorbidities. It is estimated that around 30% of children with autism, with typical early development, may present regression in the first years of life, which was already reported by Kanner in one of his original cases. The term regression refers to the loss of social, communicative or motor skills. It is essential to be alert to any symptoms of autistic regression, since it is not always an unspecific usual manifestation of the clinical spectrum of autism. Although little is known about the pathogenesis of regression, it needs to be organised hierarchically, as it can be part of different conditions with a variety of causes.
Aims: The aim of this study is to analyse distinct conditions that need to be addressed in the case of a child with autistic regression, including genetic and toxic causations, autoimmune and nutritional phenomena, and epilepsies.
Conclusion: When faced with a case of autistic regression it is essential to try to identify the possible aetiology, as this can allow specific treatment and adequate genetic counselling to be established.
Title: Regresion autista: aspectos clinicos y etiologicos.
Introduccion. Los trastornos del espectro autista son disfunciones del neurodesarrollo que se caracterizan por deficits en la integracion social y la comunicacion, asociados a intereses restringidos y conductas estereotipadas. Un alto porcentaje se asocia a trastorno del lenguaje, disfunciones sensoriales, trastorno por deficit de atencion, bipolaridad, discapacidad intelectual o epilepsia, entre otras comorbilidades. Se estima que aproximadamente un 30% de los niños con autismo, con desarrollo tipico inicial, pueden presentar regresion en los primeros años de vida, lo cual ya fue comunicado por Kanner en uno de sus casos originales. Se denomina regresion a la perdida de habilidades sociales, comunicativas o motoras. Es esencial estar atentos ante cualquier cuadro de regresion autista, ya que no siempre es una manifestacion habitual inespecifica del espectro clinico de autismo. Si bien la patogenia de la regresion se comprende poco, debe ser jerarquizada, ya que puede ser parte de diferentes entidades con diversas etiologias. Objetivo. Analizar diferentes entidades que deben evocarse frente a un niño con regresion autista, incluyendo etiologias geneticas, toxicas, fenomenos autoinmunes, nutricionales y epilepsias. Conclusion. Frente a un cuadro de regresion autista es esencial intentar identificar la posible etiologia, dado que esto puede permitir un tratamiento especifico y un adecuado asesoramiento genetico.