title: Cerebrospinal fluid biopterin and biogenic amine metabolites during oral R-THBP therapy for infantile autism.
abstract: Treatment with 6R-L-erythro-5,6,7,8-tetrahydrobiopterin (R-THBP) has been suggested to improve autistic behavior. Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) levels of total biopterin, oxidized and reduced forms of biopterin, homovanillic acid, and 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid were measured in 14 autistic children and 18 controls to clarify the mechanism of action of R-THBP. The 14 autistic children received R-THBP orally at 1 mg/kg per day; 7 children showed clinical improvement (responders) and the other 7 patients did not (nonresponders). There were no significant differences between responders, nonresponders, and controls in the CSF levels of the metabolites before R-THBP administration. When lumbar puncture was repeated in 6 autistic children in the 24th week of R-THBP therapy, there was no significant change in the CSF levels of any metabolites.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics and Child Health, Kurume University School of Medicine, Japan.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Komori
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Matsuishi
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Yamada
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yamashita
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ohtaki
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kato
mesh_terms: D001321:Autistic Disorder / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid / Q000188:drug therapy*; D001708:Biopterins / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006719:Homovanillic Acid / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid; D006801:Humans; D006897:Hydroxyindoleacetic Acid / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid; D008297:Male; D018377:Neurotransmitter Agents / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid*; D010552:Personality Assessment; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D018377:Neurotransmitter Agents; D001708:Biopterins; D006897:Hydroxyindoleacetic Acid; C003402:sapropterin; D006719:Homovanillic Acid