Elevated levels of growth-related hormones in autism and autism spectrum disorder.
OBJECTIVE
Children with autism are known to have larger head circumferences; whether they are above average in height and weight is less clear. Moreover, little is known about growth-related hormone levels in children with autism. We investigated whether children with autism were taller and heavier, and whether they had higher levels of growth-related hormones than control children did.


METHODS
A case-control study design was employed.


METHODS
Boys with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) or autism (n = 71) and age-matched control boys (n = 59) were evaluated at Cincinnati Children's Hospital.


METHODS
Height, weight and head circumference were measured. Blood samples were assayed for IGF-1 and 2, IGFBP-3, growth hormone binding protein (GHBP) and for dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) and DHEA sulphate (DHEAS).


RESULTS
Subjects with autism/ASD had significantly (P = 0.03) greater head circumferences (mean z-score 1.24, SD 1.35) than controls (mean z-score 0.78, SD 0.93). Subjects with autism also had significantly (P = 0.01) greater weights (mean z-score 0.91, SD 1.13) than controls (mean z-score 0.41, SD 1.11). Height did not differ significantly between groups (P = 0.65); subjects with autism/ASD had significantly (P = 0.003) higher body mass indices (BMI) (mean z-score 0.85, SD 1.19) than controls (mean z-score 0.24, SD 1.17). Levels of IGF-1, IGF-2, IGFBP-3 and GHBP in the group with autism/ASD were all significantly higher (all P < or = 0.0001) than in controls.


CONCLUSIONS
Children with autism/ASD had significantly higher levels of many growth-related hormones: IGF-1, IGF-2, IGFBP-3 and GHBP. These findings could help explain the significantly larger head circumferences and higher weights and BMIs seen in these subjects. Future studies should examine the potential role of growth-related hormones in the pathophysiology of autism.
Mills
James L
JL
Division of Epidemiology, Statistics and Prevention Research, National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health/DHHS, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA. jamesmills@nih.gov
Hediger
Mary L
ML
Molloy
Cynthia A
CA
Chrousos
George P
GP
Manning-Courtney
Patricia
P
Yu
Kai F
KF
Brasington
Mark
M
England
Lucinda J
LJ
D000311:Adrenal Glands / Q000503:physiopathology; D001321:Autistic Disorder / Q000097:blood* / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D015992:Body Mass Index; D001835:Body Weight; D002352:Carrier Proteins / Q000097:blood; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002508:Cephalometry; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003687:Dehydroepiandrosterone / Q000097:blood; D019314:Dehydroepiandrosterone Sulfate / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D018972:Insulin-Like Growth Factor Binding Protein 3 / Q000097:blood; D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I / Q000032:analysis; D007335:Insulin-Like Growth Factor II / Q000032:analysis; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male
D002352:Carrier Proteins; D018972:Insulin-Like Growth Factor Binding Protein 3; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D003687:Dehydroepiandrosterone; D019314:Dehydroepiandrosterone Sulfate; D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I; D007335:Insulin-Like Growth Factor II; C051815:somatotropin-binding protein