title: Beta-endorphin levels in peripheral blood mononuclear cells and long-term naltrexone treatment in autistic children.
abstract: We assessed the clinical and biological effects of high-dose, long-term Naltrexone (NTX) treatment in 11 children (3-11 years), who had been diagnosed as autistic. The drug was given following an open design, for 12 weeks. Beta-Endorphin (beta-END) was assayed in peripheral blood mononuclear cells after 1 and 3 months of treatment, and 6 months after the completion of the course. Baseline beta-END levels were higher than in healthy age-matched controls. In seven patients treatment reduced beta-END, whose levels rose in four children. Autistic symptoms were considerably attenuated in all cases, with functional improvements involving several areas. There was a close correlation between the reduction in beta-END levels and the decrease of social withdrawal, and an evident--though weak--correlation between increases in beta-END and decreases in stereotypy and abnormal speech. Both effects persisted after treatment stopped.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Child and Adolescent Neurologic and Psychiatric Sciences, University of Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: A G
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: Cazzullo
authors.forename: M C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Musetti
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Musetti
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bajo
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Sacerdote
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Panerai
mesh_terms: D001321:Autistic Disorder / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003071:Cognition / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D007963:Leukocytes, Mononuclear / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D009271:Naltrexone / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D009292:Narcotic Antagonists / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D013239:Stereotyped Behavior / Q000187:drug effects; D001615:beta-Endorphin / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D009292:Narcotic Antagonists; D009271:Naltrexone; D001615:beta-Endorphin