Oculocutaneous Albinism and Autism: A Case Report and Review of Literature

Autistic disorder is a highly heritable disorder characterized by impaired communication, social interaction, and repetitive behaviors. Several inherited medical and psychological disorders have been reported in association with childhood autism and many of these disorders shed light on the role of genetics in the etiology of childhood autism. Association of autism and oculocutaneous albinism is rarely reported in the literature. Herein, we report the joint occurrence of autistic disorder (AD) and oculocutaneous albinism (OCA) in a two-year and six-month old boy. This association was documented in a few previous reports about the affected individuals and families of individuals with childhood autism. All these reports and this case connote whether childhood autism has any genetic and clinical relationship with oculocutaneous albinism.