title: Childhood autism: a complex disorder.
abstract: Twenty-four-hour urine samples from psychotic and autistic children were precipitated with benzoic acid at pH 4.3. Fractionation of the aromatic complexes thus formed with benzoic acid-protein and peptides and uric acid, proteins and peptides on G-25 columns-yielded filtration patterns that may be of diagnostic value. Peptide material could be extracted from the formed complexes and refractionated on P2 gels. Increased levels of peptide material, especially of N-substituted peptides, could be demonstrated. Several bioactive factors (Reichelt et al. 1981) are under study. Possible etiological factors are discussed, and a working hypothesis is presented.
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000596:Amino Acids / Q000652:urine; D001321:Autistic Disorder / Q000209:etiology / Q000652:urine*; D001565:Benzoates / Q000652:urine; D019817:Benzoic Acid; D002648:Child; D002659:Child Development Disorders, Pervasive / Q000652:urine*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002850:Chromatography, Gel; D006023:Glycoproteins / Q000652:urine; D006801:Humans; D010455:Peptides / Q000652:urine*
chemical_list: D000596:Amino Acids; D001565:Benzoates; D006023:Glycoproteins; D010455:Peptides; D019817:Benzoic Acid