title: Clinical and laboratory data in a sample of Greek children with autism spectrum disorders.
abstract: The purpose of this study is to describe clinical and laboratory data, as well as comorbid disorders in Greek children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD). Data were retrospectively collected for 222 children aged 1.5-9 years. The mean age at diagnosis was 43.7 ± 17.6 months. Significantly earlier diagnoses were noted in children with comorbid disorders (epilepsy, hearing deficits, genetic/metabolic disorders), mental retardation and a large head circumference (HC). Macrocephaly (HC ≥ 97th percentile) was found in 21.2% of children, genetic and metabolic disorders in 11.7% and 2.7% respectively and mental retardation in 23%. Patients with certain clinical features (i.e. syndromic) are earlier diagnosed. It is of ultimate importance to promptly identify all children with ASD, probably through the appliance of screening and surveillance programs in the Greek population.
authors.affiliation: 1st Department of Pediatrics, Medical School, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 9 Anixeos Str, Panorama, 55236 Thessaloniki, Greece. athenaververis@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Athina
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ververi
authors.forename: Efthymia
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Vargiami
authors.forename: Vassiliki
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Papadopoulou
authors.forename: Dimitrios
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Tryfonas
authors.forename: Dimitrios I
authors.initials: DI
authors.lastname: Zafeiriou
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D002659:Child Development Disorders, Pervasive / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000235:genetics*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D015897:Comorbidity; D003431:Cross-Cultural Comparison; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003638:Deafness / Q000208:ethnology / Q000235:genetics; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000208:ethnology / Q000235:genetics; D005260:Female; D005820:Genetic Testing; D006115:Greece; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008607:Intellectual Disability / Q000208:ethnology / Q000235:genetics; D008297:Male; D058627:Megalencephaly / Q000208:ethnology / Q000235:genetics; D008661:Metabolism, Inborn Errors / Q000208:ethnology / Q000235:genetics; D010641:Phenotype; D012189:Retrospective Studies