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- Title
Low levels of insulin-like growth factor-I in cerebrospinal fluid in children with autism.
- Authors
Vanhala, Raija; Turpeinen, Ursula; Riikonen, Raili; Vanhala, R; Turpeinen, U; Riikonen, R
- Abstract
Autism is a behaviourally defined syndrome characterized by disturbances of social interaction and communication and restrictions of behaviour patterns and imagination. The pathogenesis of autism is unknown but it is suspected that a number of genetic factors may be involved. Neurotrophic factors such as insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) play a role in early brain development. The aim of this study was to determine whether IGF-I levels might be associated with the development of autism. IGF-I levels were measured in the CSF of 11 children with autism (4 females, 7 males; mean age 3.8 years, SD 1.1) using a sensitive radioimmunoassay method and compared with levels in 11 control participants (6 females, 5 males; mean age 3.8 years). Levels of IGF-I in the CSF were statistically significantly lower in the children with autism than in the control children (p=0.03). IGF-I may play a role in pathogenetic mechanisms of autism and the role of neurotrophic factors in autism and other neurodevelopmental diseases should be studied further.
- Publication
Developmental Medicine & Child Neurology, 2001, Vol 43, Issue 9, p614
- ISSN
0012-1622
- Publication type
journal article
- DOI
10.1111/j.1469-8749.2001.tb00244.x