title: Effects of acute administration of naltrexone on cardiovascular function, body temperature, body weight and serum concentrations of liver enzymes in autistic children.
abstract: The effects of acute, orally administered naltrexone (0.5, 1.0, 1.5 and 2.0 mg/kg), a potent opiate receptor antagonist, on auscultated heart rate, systolic blood pressure and axillary body temperature were investigated before and about 1 h postdrug in 5 autistic children (4-12 years of age). In addition, an electrocardiogram was recorded on each child before and about 3 h after placebo or 2.0 mg/kg of naltrexone. Finally, the serum concentrations of the liver enzymes glutamic-oxaloacetic transaminase (SGOT) and glutamic-pyruvic transaminase (SGPT) were measured 24 h following placebo or naltrexone administration. Naltrexone had no statistically significant effects on any of these measures in comparison with baseline or placebo levels. Thus, these data provide preliminary evidence for the safety of acute administration of naltrexone in children.
authors.affiliation: Brain Research Center, Children's Hospital, Washington, D.C.
authors.forename: B H
authors.initials: BH
authors.lastname: Herman
authors.forename: M K
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Hammock
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Arthur-Smith
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kuehl
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Appelgate
mesh_terms: D000410:Alanine Transaminase / Q000097:blood; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases / Q000097:blood; D001321:Autistic Disorder / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects; D001831:Body Temperature / Q000187:drug effects; D001835:Body Weight / Q000187:drug effects; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004562:Electrocardiography; D004798:Enzymes / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000187:drug effects; D006439:Hemodynamics / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009271:Naltrexone / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D004798:Enzymes; D009271:Naltrexone; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases; D000410:Alanine Transaminase