Urinary epidermal and insulin-like growth factor excretion in autistic children.
Growth factors have been implicated in the pathogenesis of autism. We have investigated daily urinary excretion of insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1), epidermal growth factor, and insulin-like growth factor binding protein-3 in autistic children (n=34, age 2-5 years) and age-matched control children (n=29). The mean urinary IGF-1 level was lower in the autism group than the control group (p=0.03). Height was normal. These findings suggest altered IGF-1 metabolism in young autistic children. The cause-effect relationship should be examined by longitudinal studies and insulin-like growth factor provocation tests.
Anlar
B
B
Division of Pediatric Neurology, Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, Hacettepe University, Ankara, Turkey. banlar@hacettepe.edu.tr
Oktem
F
F
Bakkaloglu
B
B
Haliloglu
M
M
Oguz
H
H
Unal
F
F
Pehlivanturk
B
B
Gokler
B
B
Ozbesler
C
C
Yordam
N
N
D001321:Autistic Disorder / Q000652:urine*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004815:Epidermal Growth Factor / Q000652:urine*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I / Q000652:urine*; D008297:Male
D004815:Epidermal Growth Factor; D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I