title: Improvement of autism spectrum disorder symptoms in three children by using gastrin-releasing peptide.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the safety, tolerability and potential therapeutic effects of gastrin-releasing peptide in three children with autistic spectrum disorder.
  
  
  METHODS
  Case series study with the intravenous administration of gastrin-releasing peptide in the dose of 160pmol/kg for four consecutive days. To evaluate the results, parental impressions the Childhood Autism Rating Scale (CARS) and the Clinical Global Impression (CGI) Scale. Each child underwent a new peptide cycle after two weeks. The children were followed for four weeks after the end of the infusions.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The gastrin-releasing peptide was well tolerated and no child had adverse effects. Two children had improved social interaction, with a slight improvement in joint attention and the interaction initiatives. Two showed reduction of stereotypes and improvement in verbal language. One child lost his compulsion to bathe, an effect that lasted two weeks after each infusion cycle. Average reduction in CARS score was 2.8 points. CGI was "minimally better" in two children and "much better" in one.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study suggests that the gastrin-releasing peptide is safe and may be effective in improving key symptoms of autism spectrum disorder, but its results should be interpreted with caution. Controlled clinical trials-randomized, double-blinded, and with more children-are needed to better evaluate the possible therapeutic effects of gastrin-releasing peptide in autism.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Child Neurology Unit, Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil. Electronic address: michelemb@terra.com.br.
authors.forename: Michele Michelin
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Becker
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Instituto de Psicologia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil.
authors.forename: Cleonice
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Bosa
authors.affiliation: Department of Research Group and Post-Graduation, Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil.
authors.forename: Vera Lorentz
authors.initials: VL
authors.lastname: Oliveira-Freitas
authors.affiliation: Department of Research Group and Post-Graduation, Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil.
authors.forename: José Roberto
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Goldim
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Child Neurology Unit, Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil.
authors.forename: Lygia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Ohlweiler
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, Instituto de Ciências Básicas da Saúde, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil.
authors.forename: Rafael
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Roesler
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil.
authors.forename: Gilberto
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Schwartsmann
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Child Neurology Unit, School of Medicine, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil.
authors.forename: Rudimar Dos Santos
authors.initials: Rdos S
authors.lastname: Riesgo
mesh_terms: D061605:Administration, Intravenous; D000067877:Autism Spectrum Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D019886:Gastrin-Releasing Peptide / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D019886:Gastrin-Releasing Peptide
keywords: Autism; Autism spectrum disorder; Autismo; Gastrin-releasing peptide receptor; Neuropeptides; Neuropeptídios; Receptor do peptídeo liberador de gastrina; Transtorno do espectro autista