In recent years, the incidence of autism spectrum disorders (ASD) has been increasing drastically. Dr. You Xin, professor of the Department of Rheumatology of Peking Union Medical College Hospital, have been devoting herself to the research of autism for many years. Her team looked for research ideas from clinical experiences and proposed that the occurrence of autism might be related to immune disturbances and intestinal flora imbalance. They also discovered that comprehensive therapy focusing on children's systemic symptoms can improve the prognosis of autism.

The team conducted in-depth studies on the immunity, the metabolism, the intestinal flora, as well as multi-system symptoms of over 800 patients with autism. In early stages of their research, obvious improvements following dietary intervention, immune therapy and microecological treatment had been observed. From bedside to bench, they fixed research interests in the immunity and gut microbiota in autism.

The research team worked to promote the concept that "Diet intervention and limiting foods that cause intolerance are the basis of treatment of autism", which has helped many little children with autism to attain obvious improvement. Currently, international researchers hold the theory that intestinal flora abnormality is a common phenomenon in autistic children. And there are obvious differences in bacteria species and abundance between autistic children and normal children, causing dysfunction of digestion and absorption. At the beginning of concept promotion, professor You took the lead in carrying out education of dietary intervention in special schools. The comorbidities and core symptoms of autistic children were significantly improved after food intervention. Although there are many difficulties in executing dietary intervention, it has been gradually accepted by more and more parents, who overcame the difficulties and adhered to the regime in the long term.

In addition to dietary intervention, fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) has become a new hot spot in the treatment of autism. A number of research teams in China have carried out the novel therapy of FMT for the treatment of autism in the past years. Many autistic children benefited greatly from microbiota transplantation. Their severe gastrointestinal discomforts and core symptoms of autism have been significantly reduced.

Besides, the abnormal behaviors of patients with autism were improved in varying degrees following antibiotics or gamma immunoglobulin therapy, or treatments improving metabolic abnormalities and methylation disorders. This suggests that systemic comprehensive therapy is an effective strategy for the treatment of autism.

Autism is a representative of a large category of special diseases. The in-depth study of autism will begin a new medical era regarding the "gut-brain axis".

Infusion of the purified flora into the ileocecum of the patient through endoscopy

Professor You Xin consulting for autistic children in impoverished areas

Reporter: Gan Dingzhu

Photo provided by You Xin

Translator: You Xin, Jiang Nan

Editor: Yu Nanze