High blood monocyte counts and neopterin levels in children with autistic disorder.
OBJECTIVE
Leukocyte counts and plasma neopterin levels were determined in autistic children and matched healthy comparison subjects.


METHODS
Blood from 31 autistic children and 28 age- and gender-matched healthy comparison subjects was analyzed for numbers of neutrophils, eosinophils, basophils, lymphocytes, monocytes, and total leukocytes and for plasma neopterin levels.


RESULTS
The monocyte count and neopterin level were significantly higher in the autistic children than in the comparison subjects.


CONCLUSIONS
These results suggest that the immune system may be activated in some children with autism.
Sweeten
Thayne L
TL
Department of Psychiatry, Indiana University School of Medicine, 1111 West 10th Street, Indianapolis, IN 46202-4800, USA.
Posey
David J
DJ
McDougle
Christopher J
CJ
D001321:Autistic Disorder / Q000097:blood* / Q000276:immunology*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D006801:Humans; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D008297:Male; D009000:Monocytes / Q000276:immunology; D019798:Neopterin / Q000097:blood*
D019798:Neopterin