CSF beta-endorphin levels in patients with infantile autism.

Abstract

We measured CSF levels of beta-endorphin, an opioid hormone, in 19 patients with infantile autism and in 3 patients with Rett syndrome, and compared them with control values. In infantile autism, CSF levels of beta-endorphin did not differ significantly from those of age-matched controls. There was no significant correlation between CSF levels and clinical symptoms, including self-injurious behavior, pain insensitivity, and stereotyped movement. However, CSF levels of beta-endorphin were significantly higher in the patients with Rett syndrome than in the control (p < .05). Data suggest that neurons containing beta-endorphin may not be involved in patients with infantile autism. Thus, there is no relationship between dysfunction of brain opioid and autism.

• Authors: S Nagamitsu, T Matsuishi, T Kisa, H Komori, M Miyazaki, T Hashimoto, Y Yamashita, E Ohtaki, H Kato
• Journal: Journal of autism and developmental disorders (J Autism Dev Disord) Vol. 27 Issue 2 Pg. 155-63 (Apr 1997) ISSN: 0162-3257 [Print] United States
• PMID: 9105966 (Publication Type: Comparative Study, Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• beta-Endorphin

Topics

• Autistic Disorder (cerebrospinal fluid)
• Child
• Female
• Humans
• Male
• Matched-Pair Analysis
• Neurons (chemistry)
• Rett Syndrome (cerebrospinal fluid)
• Self-Injurious Behavior (cerebrospinal fluid)
• Stereotyped Behavior
• beta-Endorphin (cerebrospinal fluid)