Health

Health: Controversial Treatment For Autism

PHILADELPHIA (CBS 3) ― The government has dropped plans to study a controversial treatment for autism. Too expensive and time consuming, that's why officials from the National Institute of Mental Health said they stopped the research on something called Chelation.

Many mainstream doctors say it doesn't work, but some families swear by it.

Two of the Conte triplets are autistic. Dinner time is often an ordeal.

"The struggle is so hard every day," said Andrea Conte, the triplet's mother.

She says their lives have been improving with the help of alternative therapies, including the unproven treatment called Chelation.

Sam and Thomas Conte are given drugs that are believed to remove metal compounds from their blood causing them to be excreted in urine.

"Some of the metals coming out of their body, especially the lead, were just off the charts," said Andrea.

Chelation has long been used to treat lead poisoning, but now some are using it for autism, based on a theory that metals, including mercury from vaccines, contribute to the condition.

"Verbal skills are the first that we see. Improvements in eye contact, cooperation," said Dr. Giuseppina Feingold, the boy's pediatrician.

Dr. Barry Kosofsky, a Child Neurologist, believes potential side effects like rashes and blood complications are too risky to justify any possible benefits.

"These desperate parents will take money that they often don't have to spend on such therapies which are experimental at best, and likely not to work," said Dr. Kosofsky.

Still the Conte's insist they see real gains and say any signs of improvement are better than none.

In cancelling the study on Chelation, officials said there were some safety concerns, and that the time and money could be better spent on other projects. But at this point, we don't know what that will be.

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