PDD-NOS (Pervasive Developmental Disorder Not Otherwise Specified)

Aim To assess plasma zinc and copper concentration in individuals with Asperger's Syndrome, Pervasive Developmental Disorder-Not Otherwise Specified (PDD-NOS) and autistic disorder, and to analyze the efficacy of zinc therapy on the normalization of zinc and copper levels and symptom severity in these disorders. Subjects and methods Plasma from 79 autistic individuals, 52 individuals with PDD-NOS, 21 individuals with Asperger's Syndrome (all meeting DSM-IV diagnostic criteria), and 18 age and gender similar neurotypical controls, were tested for plasma zinc and copper using inductively-coupled plasma-mass spectrometry. Results Autistic and PDD-NOS individuals had significantly elevated plasma levels of copper. None of the groups (autism, Asperger's or PDD-NOS) had significantly lower plasma zinc concentrations. Post zinc and B-6 therapy, individuals with autism and PDD-NOS had significantly lower levels of copper, but individuals with Asperger's did not have significantly lower copper. Individuals with autism, PDD-NOS and Asperger's all had significantly higher zinc levels. Severity of symptoms decreased in autistic individuals following zinc and B-6 therapy with respect to awareness, receptive language, focus and attention, hyperactivity, tip toeing, eye contact, sound sensitivity, tactile sensitivity and seizures. None of the measured symptoms worsened after therapy. None of the symptoms in the Asperger's patients improved after therapy. Discussion These results suggest an association between copper and zinc plasma levels and individuals with autism, PDD-NOS and Asperger's Syndrome. The data also indicates that copper levels normalize (decrease to levels of controls) in individuals with autism and PDD-NOS, but not in individuals with Asperger's. These same Asperger's patients do not improve with respect to symptoms after therapy, whereas many symptoms improved in the autism group. This may indicate an association between copper levels and symptom severity.

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MRI-based morphometry in children with multiple complex developmental disorder, a phenotypically defined subtype of pervasive developmental disorder not otherwise specified

Psychological Medicine ◽

10.1017/s0033291707001481 ◽

2007 ◽

Vol 38 (9) ◽

pp. 1361-1367 ◽

Cited By ~ 7

Author(s):

B. E. Lahuis ◽

S. Durston ◽

H. Nederveen ◽

M. Zeegers ◽

S. J. M. C. Palmen ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Autism Spectrum Disorders ◽

Pervasive Developmental Disorder ◽

Developmental Disorder ◽

Autism Spectrum ◽

Intracranial Volume ◽

High Functioning ◽

Not Otherwise Specified ◽

Multiple Complex Developmental Disorder ◽

Spectrum Disorders ◽

Complex Developmental Disorder

BackgroundThe DSM-IV-R classification Pervasive Developmental Disorder – Not otherwise Specified (PDD-NOS) is based on the symptoms for autism and includes a wide variety of phenotypes that do not meet full criteria for autism. As such, PDD-NOS is a broad and poorly defined residual category of the autism spectrum disorders. In order to address the heterogeneity in this residual category it may be helpful to define clinical and neurobiological subtypes. Multiple complex developmental disorder (MCDD) may constitute such a subtype. In order to study the neurobiological specificity of MCDD in comparison with other autism spectrum disorders, we investigated brain morphology in children (age 7–15 years) with MCDD compared to children with autism and typically developing controls.MethodStructural MRI measures were compared between 22 high-functioning subjects with MCDD and 21 high-functioning subjects with autism, and 21 matched controls.ResultsSubjects with MCDD showed an enlarged cerebellum and a trend towards larger grey-matter volume compared to control subjects. Compared to subjects with autism, subjects with MCDD had smaller intracranial volume.ConclusionsWe report a pattern of volumetric changes in the brains of subjects with MCDD, similar to that seen in autism. However, no enlargement in head size was found. This suggests that although some of the neurobiological changes associated with MCDD overlap with those in autism, others do not. These neurobiological changes may reflect differences in the developmental trajectories associated with these two subtypes of autism spectrum disorders.

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