Serum levels of vascular endothelial growth factor and its receptors in patients with severe autism.
OBJECTIVE
To study vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and its soluble receptors sVEGFR-1 and -2 in autism.


METHODS
We measured serum levels of angiogenic molecules in 22 patients with severe autism and 28 controls.


RESULTS
Patients and controls had similar sVEGFR-2 levels, but VEGF levels were lower and sVEGFR-1 higher in patients with autism.


CONCLUSIONS
The imbalance between VEGF and its receptor sVEGFR-1 may be involved in the pathophysiology of autism.
Emanuele
Enzo
E
Department of Health Sciences, Section of Psychiatry, University of Pavia, Via Bassi, 21, I-27100, Pavia, Italy. enzo.em@libero.it
Orsi
Paolo
P
Barale
Francesco
F
di Nemi
Stefania Ucelli
SU
Bertona
Marco
M
Politi
Pierluigi
P
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001321:Autistic Disorder / Q000097:blood* / Q000503:physiopathology; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000097:blood*; D040281:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-1 / Q000097:blood*; D040301:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-2 / Q000097:blood*; D055815:Young Adult
D015415:Biomarkers; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D040281:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-1; D040301:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-2