Cerebrospinal fluid biopterin and biogenic amine metabolites during oral R-THBP therapy for infantile autism.
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.
Komori
H
H
Department of Pediatrics and Child Health, Kurume University School of Medicine, Japan.
Matsuishi
T
T
Yamada
S
S
Yamashita
Y
Y
Ohtaki
E
E
Kato
H
H
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
D018377:Neurotransmitter Agents; D001708:Biopterins; D006897:Hydroxyindoleacetic Acid; C003402:sapropterin; D006719:Homovanillic Acid