Details

Autor(en) / Beteiligte

• Spivak, Baruch
• Golubchik, Pavel
• Mozes, Tamar
• Vered, Yaffa
• Nechmad, Allon
• Weizman, Abraham
• Strous, Rael D.

Titel

Low Platelet-Poor Plasma Levels of Serotonin in Adult Autistic Patients

Ist Teil von

• Neuropsychobiology, 2004-01, Vol.50 (2), p.157-160

Ort / Verlag

Basel, Switzerland: Karger

Erscheinungsjahr

2004

Quelle

MEDLINE

Beschreibungen/Notizen

• Background: Hyperserotonemia has been reported in about a third of autistic patients. However, most studies have examined whole blood levels of serotonin (5-HT), the vast majority of which is found in platelets. The aim of this study was to determine 5-HT levels in platelet-poor plasma (PPP) in a group of adult patients with autism. Methods: Levels of PPP 5-HT were compared between 10 adult drug-free autistic patients and 12 healthy controls. The Ritvo-Freeman Real-Life Rating Scale and the Overt Aggression Scale (OAS) were administered to the autistic group as a measure of symptom severity. Results: Significantly lower PPP 5-HT levels were observed in the autistic group as compared to the controls (p = 0.03). In addition, PPP 5-HT levels were inversely correlated with OAS scores among subjects with autism (r = –0.64, p < 0.05). Conclusion: PPP 5-HT (‘free’) levels appear to be low in autistic patients and may play a role in the pathophysiology and symptomatology of the disorder.