Связь системного воспаления низкой интенсивности и психического регресса в раннем детском возрасте: ПАТОФИЗИОЛОГИЯ — МЕДИЦИНЕ

Илья Владимирович  Кравченко; Игорь Владимирович  Макаров; Дарья Андреевна  Емелина; Рауф Фаикович  Гасанов; Екатерина Сергеевна  Прохоренко

doi:10.56871/RBR.2026.98.17.003

Association between chronic low-grade systemic inflammation and developmental regression in early childhood

PATHOPHYSIOLOGY — MEDICINE

Ilya V. Kravchenko V.M. Bekhterev National Medical Research Centre for Psychiatry and Neurology https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0175-2453
Igor V. Makarov V.M. Bekhterev National Medical Research Centre for Psychiatry and Neurology https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0176-3846
Daria A. Emelina V.M. Bekhterev National Medical Research Centre for Psychiatry and Neurology https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8189-1479
Rauf F. Gasanov V.M. Bekhterev National Medical Research Centre for Psychiatry and Neurology https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3045-333X
Ekaterina S. Prokhorenko V.M. Bekhterev National Medical Research Centre for Psychiatry and Neurology https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3867-548X

Keywords:

developmental regression chronic low-grade systemic inflammation neuroinflammation childhood disintegrative disorder autism spectrum disorder психический регресс хроническое системное воспаление низкой интенсивности нейровоспаление детское дезинтегративное расстройство расстройство аутистического спектра

Abstract

This article presents a critical analysis of the hypothesis proposing a pathogenetic role for chronic low-grade systemic inflammation in the development of early childhood mental regression — a phenomenon characterized by the loss of previously acquired skills (e.g., speech and social abilities) accompanied by impaired regulatory control of behavior and emotions (ICD-10: F84.3). This review systematizes the fundamental obstacles to confirming the role of chronic low-grade systemic inflammation as a key pathogenetic factor. These obstacles include: 1) conceptual and terminological ambiguity — the lack of precise definitions and diagnostic criteria for the concepts of “chronic systemic inflammation” and “neuroinflammation”; 2) methodological shortcomings of existing studies — the phenomenological heterogeneity of study groups, neglect of age — specific characteristics, and an absence of research accounting for the staged progression of the mental regression phenomenon; 3) the difficulty of establishing a causal relationship — observed changes in biomarkers could be either a cause or a consequence of developmental disturbances, or may reflect other processes, including physiological ones; 4) the absence of clinico-laboratory parallels with classical inflammatory diseases — chronic low-grade systemic inflammation lacks identifiable phlogogenic factors, local inflammatory manifestations, an acute-phase response, any consistent pathology in other organs, or degenerative-proliferative changes, nor is there concordance between fluctuations in laboratory parameters and the dynamics of the clinical psychiatric picture. The authors conclude that, despite the appeal of the hypothesis, current evidence is insufficient to establish chronic low-grade systemic inflammation as a causal factor in mental regression. Promising directions for future research include stricter phenotypic differentiation of patients and the implementation of carefully designed longitudinal studies that account for age-related immune characteristics.

Author Biographies

Ilya V. Kravchenko, V.M. Bekhterev National Medical Research Centre for Psychiatry and Neurology

Cand. Sci. (Med.), Senior Researcher at the Department of Child Psychiatry

Igor V. Makarov, V.M. Bekhterev National Medical Research Centre for Psychiatry and Neurology

Dr. Sci. (Med.), Professor, Chief Researcher at the Department of Child Psychiatry, Head of the Department of Child Psychiatry

Daria A. Emelina, V.M. Bekhterev National Medical Research Centre for Psychiatry and Neurology

Cand. Sci. (Med.), Senior Researcher at the Department of Child Psychiatry

Rauf F. Gasanov, V.M. Bekhterev National Medical Research Centre for Psychiatry and Neurology

Cand. Sci. (Med.), Leading Researcher at the Department of Child Psychiatry

Ekaterina S. Prokhorenko, V.M. Bekhterev National Medical Research Centre for Psychiatry and Neurology

Junior Researcher at the Department of Child Psychiatry

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Association between chronic low-grade systemic inflammation and developmental regression in early childhood: PATHOPHYSIOLOGY — MEDICINE. (2026). Russian Biomedical Research, 11(2), 33-47. https://doi.org/10.56871/RBR.2026.98.17.003

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Association between chronic low-grade systemic inflammation and developmental regression in early childhood: PATHOPHYSIOLOGY — MEDICINE. (2026). Russian Biomedical Research, 11(2), 33-47. https://doi.org/10.56871/RBR.2026.98.17.003

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