1. CSF beta-endorphin levels in patients with infantile autism.
- Author
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Nagamitsu S, Matsuishi T, Kisa T, Komori H, Miyazaki M, Hashimoto T, Yamashita Y, Ohtaki E, and Kato H
- Subjects
- Child, Female, Humans, Male, Matched-Pair Analysis, Neurons chemistry, Self-Injurious Behavior cerebrospinal fluid, Stereotyped Behavior, Autistic Disorder cerebrospinal fluid, Rett Syndrome cerebrospinal fluid, beta-Endorphin cerebrospinal fluid
- 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.
- Published
- 1997
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