title: Relationship between chronic lead toxicity and plasma neurotransmitters in autistic patients from Saudi Arabia.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study aims to clarify the relationship between blood Pb(2+) concentration as a ubiquitous environmental pollutant and plasma neurotransmitters as biochemical parameters that reflect brain function in Saudi autistic patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  RBC's lead content together with plasma concentration of gamma aminobutyric acid (GABA), serotonin (5HT) and dopamine (DA) were measured in 25 Saudi autistic patients and compared to 16 age-matching control samples.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The obtained data recorded that Saudi autistic patients have a remarkable higher levels of Pb(2+) and significantly elevated levels of GABA, 5HT and DA compared to healthy subjects. ROC analysis revealed satisfactory values of specificity and sensitivity of the measured parameters.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study suggests that postnatal lead toxicity in autistic patients of Saudi Arabia could represent a causative factor in the pathogenesis of autism. Elevated GABA, 5HT and DA were discussed in relation to the chronic lead toxicity recorded in the investigated autistic samples.
authors.affiliation: Biochemistry Department, Science College, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia; Autism Research and Treatment Center, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia; Shaik AL-Amodi Autism Research Chair, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Electronic address: elansary@ksu.edu.sa.
authors.forename: Afaf K
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: El-Ansary
authors.affiliation: Biochemistry Department, Science College, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia; Autism Research and Treatment Center, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia; Shaik AL-Amodi Autism Research Chair, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Abir Ben
authors.initials: AB
authors.lastname: Bacha
authors.affiliation: Autism Research and Treatment Center, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia; Shaik AL-Amodi Autism Research Chair, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia; Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Layla Y Al-
authors.initials: LYA
authors.lastname: Ayahdi
mesh_terms: D001321:Autistic Disorder / Q000209:etiology*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004298:Dopamine / Q000032:analysis / Q000097:blood; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000737:chemistry*; D006801:Humans; D007854:Lead / Q000032:analysis / Q000097:blood; D007855:Lead Poisoning / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications*; D018377:Neurotransmitter Agents / Q000032:analysis* / Q000097:blood; D012372:ROC Curve; D012529:Saudi Arabia / Q000453:epidemiology; D012701:Serotonin / Q000032:analysis / Q000097:blood; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid / Q000032:analysis / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D018377:Neurotransmitter Agents; D007854:Lead; D012701:Serotonin; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid; D004298:Dopamine