Whole blood serotonin in autistic and normal subjects.
Whole blood serotonin and tryptophan were measured in 87 normal subjects and in 40 autistic subjects. Whole blood serotonin concentrations (mean +/- SE) were significantly higher in drug-free (N = 21) autistics (205 +/- 16 ng/ml) than in normals (136 +/- 5.4 ng/ml). The Gaussian distribution of serotonin levels in the unmedicated autistic group suggests the elevation was not due to a subgroup of autistic subjects. Autistics medicated with anticonvulsants or neuroleptics had significantly lower serotonin levels than did drug-free autistic subjects. Whole blood tryptophan levels and platelet counts were similar in the autistic and normal groups. The possible causes of the hyperserotonemia of autism are discussed.
Department of Laboratory Medicine, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06525.
G M
GM
Anderson
D X
DX
Freedman
D J
DJ
Cohen
F R
FR
Volkmar
E L
EL
Hoder
P
P
McPhedran
R B
RB
Minderaa
C R
CR
Hansen
J G
JG
Young
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001321:Autistic Disorder / Q000097:blood* / Q000188:drug therapy; D001792:Blood Platelets / Q000378:metabolism; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D005260:Female; D006220:Haloperidol / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D010976:Platelet Count / Q000187:drug effects; D012701:Serotonin / Q000097:blood*; D012737:Sex Factors; D013881:Thioridazine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014364:Tryptophan / Q000097:blood
D000927:Anticonvulsants; D012701:Serotonin; D014364:Tryptophan; D006220:Haloperidol; D013881:Thioridazine