Weight and leptin changes among risperidone-treated youths with autism: 6-month prospective data.
OBJECTIVE
The authors examined the developmental impact and temporal characteristics of risperidone-associated weight change.


METHODS
Weight change was measured for 63 children and adolescents with autism treated with risperidone for 6 months. Change in serum leptin levels after 2 months was examined as a predictor of final weight gain in mixed regression models that controlled for site, gender, age, and risperidone dose.


RESULTS
Age- and gender-standardized weight increased after 6 months of treatment (gross: mean=5.6 kg [SD=3.9]; standardized: mean=0.6 z [SD=0.5]) and was positively correlated with weight gained after 1 month. Change in leptin levels after 2 months of treatment (mean=-0.3 ng/ml, SD=6.2) (N=48) did not predict final weight gain.


CONCLUSIONS
Chronic risperidone exposure in children with autism causes weight gain in excess of developmentally expected norms that follows a curvilinear trajectory and decelerates over time. Serum leptin change does not reliably predict risperidone-associated weight gain.
Martin
Andrés
A
Yale Child Study Center, Yale University, New Haven, CT 06520, USA. andres.martin@yale.edu
Scahill
Lawrence
L
Anderson
George M
GM
Aman
Michael
M
Arnold
L Eugene
LE
McCracken
James
J
McDougle
Christopher J
CJ
Tierney
Elaine
E
Chuang
Shirley
S
Vitiello
Benedetto
B
D000293:Adolescent; D000367:Age Factors; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001321:Autistic Disorder / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy*; D015992:Body Mass Index; D001835:Body Weight / Q000187:drug effects*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D020738:Leptin / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D011446:Prospective Studies; D018967:Risperidone / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015430:Weight Gain / Q000187:drug effects
D014150:Antipsychotic Agents; D020738:Leptin; D018967:Risperidone