Cerebrospinal fluid findings in adult patients with autism spectrum disorder

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
K Runge ◽  
L Tebartz van Elst ◽  
D Endres
Keyword(s):  
Autism Spectrum Disorder ◽  
Cerebrospinal Fluid ◽  
Autism Spectrum ◽  
Spectrum Disorder ◽  
Adult Patients

scholarly journals Cerebrospinal Fluid Findings of 36 Adult Patients with Autism Spectrum Disorder

2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (6) ◽  
pp. 355
Author(s):  
Kimon Runge ◽  
Ludger Tebartz van Elst ◽  
Simon Maier ◽  
Kathrin Nickel ◽  
Dominik Denzel ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Autism Spectrum Disorder ◽  
Cerebrospinal Fluid ◽  
Blood Brain Barrier ◽  
Total Protein ◽  
Autism Spectrum ◽  
Spectrum Disorder ◽  
Adult Patients ◽  
Brain Barrier ◽  
Intrathecal Synthesis ◽  
Gad65 Antibodies

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a common neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by difficulties with social interaction, repetitive behavior, and additional features, such as special interests. Its precise etiology is unclear. Recently, immunological mechanisms, such as maternal autoantibodies/infections, have increasingly been the subject of discussion. Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) investigations play a decisive role in the detection of immunological processes in the brain. This study therefore retrospectively analyzed the CSF findings of adult patients with ASD. CSF basic measures (white blood cell count, total protein, albumin quotient, immunoglobulin G (IgG) index, and oligoclonal bands) and various antineuronal antibody findings of 36 adult patients with ASD, who had received lumbar puncture, were compared with an earlier described mentally healthy control group of 39 patients with idiopathic intracranial hypertension. CSF protein concentrations and albumin quotients of patients with ASD were significantly higher as compared to controls (age corrected: p = 0.003 and p = 0.004, respectively); 17% of the patients with ASD showed increased albumin quotients. After correction for age and gender, the group effect for total protein remained significant (p = 0.041) and showed a tendency for albumin quotient (p = 0.079). In the CSF of two ASD patients, an intrathecal synthesis of anti-glutamate decarboxylase 65 (GAD65) antibodies was found. In total, more of the ASD patients (44%) presented abnormal findings in CSF basic diagnostics compared to controls (18%; p = 0.013). A subgroup of the patients with adult ASD showed indication of a blood–brain barrier dysfunction, and two patients displayed an intrathecal synthesis of anti-GAD65 antibodies; thus, the role of these antibodies in patients with ASD should be further investigated. The results of the study are limited by its retrospective and open design. The group differences in blood–brain barrier markers could be influenced by a different gender distribution between ASD patients and controls.

scholarly journals Using the Autism-Spectrum Quotient to Discriminate Autism Spectrum Disorder from ADHD in Adult Patients With and Without Comorbid Substance Use Disorder

2009 ◽  
Vol 39 (9) ◽  
pp. 1291-1297 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bram B. Sizoo ◽  
Wim van den Brink ◽  
Marielle Gorissen-van Eenige ◽  
Maarten W. Koeter ◽  
Patricia J. M. van Wijngaarden-Cremers ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Autism Spectrum Disorder ◽  
Substance Use ◽  
Substance Use Disorder ◽  
Autism Spectrum ◽  
Spectrum Disorder ◽  
Adult Patients ◽  
Autism Spectrum Quotient

Oxytocin levels tend to be lower in autistic children: A meta-analysis of 31 studies

Autism ◽  
2021 ◽  
pp. 136236132110343
Author(s):  
Simon John ◽  
Adrian V Jaeggi
Keyword(s):  
Autism Spectrum Disorder ◽  
Cerebrospinal Fluid ◽  
Confidence Interval ◽  
Citation Index ◽  
Meta Analysis ◽  
Children With Autism ◽  
Autism Spectrum ◽  
Spectrum Disorder ◽  
Autistic People ◽  
Significant Difference

The oxytocin system may be different in autistic people, which could explain some of the deficits in social behavior and cognition associated with autism spectrum disorder. However, studies comparing oxytocin levels in autistic and neurotypical individuals have shown conflicting results and a 2016 meta-analysis on seven studies concluded that there was no significant difference. Here, we greatly expanded the sample of studies to 31, warranting a reassessment of this finding. We searched Web of Science with MEDLINE®, SciELO Citation Index, and BIOSIS Citation Index for articles that measured oxytocin in plasma/serum ( k = 26 studies), saliva (4), or cerebrospinal fluid (1) in autistic individuals (total n = 1233 participants) compared to neurotypical individuals ( n = 1304). We found that oxytocin levels were significantly lower in autistic people (Cohen’s d = −0.36, 95% confidence interval = [−0.61, −0.10], p = 0.007), with no evidence for publication bias. This overall effect was driven entirely by differences among children ( k = 25, d = −0.44, 95% confidence interval = [−0.72, −0.16], p = 0.002) but not adults ( k = 6, d = 0.03, 95% confidence interval = [−0.55, 0.61], p = 0.92). These results support further research into the use of oxytocin to treat social deficits in children. Lay abstract Oxytocin is a hormone that mediates interpersonal relationships through enhancing social recognition, social memory, and reducing stress. It is released centrally into the cerebrospinal fluid, as well as peripherally into the blood, where it can easily be measured. Some studies indicate that the oxytocin system with its social implications might be different in people with autism spectrum disorder. With summarizing evidence of 31 studies, this meta-analysis suggests that children with autism spectrum disorder have lower blood oxytocin levels compared to neurotypical individuals. This might not be the case for adults with autism spectrum disorder, where we could not find a difference. Our findings motivate further exploration of the oxytocin system in children with autism spectrum disorder. This could lead to therapeutic options in treating autism spectrum disorder in childhood.

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