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Investigation of whole blood and urine monoamines in autism

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Abstract

Levels of serotonin (5-HT), dopamine (DA), norepinephrine (NE) and epinephrine (E) were determined in the whole blood and urine of 23 children with autism and compared to those of normal children. Very significant group effects (low whole blood 5-HT, high urinary 5-HT and high NE+E in autism) and age effects (urinary 5-HT and DA decrease with age) were found. Moreover, the urinary DA and the whole blood E levels were correlated with clinical findings. The results suggest a maturation defect of noradrenergic systems, possibly disturbed dopaminergic and serotoninergic metabolism, and a functional imbalance among these neurotransmitters in autism.

Résumé

Les taux de sérotonine (5-HT), de dopamine (DA), de norépinéphrine (NE) et d'épinéphrine (E) ont été déterminés sur des prélèvements d'urine et de sang chez 23 enfants autistes comparés à des enfants normaux. Des effets très significatifs pour les groupes (taux bas de 5-HT sanguins, taux élevés de 5-HT et de NE+E urinaire) et pour les âges (taux urinaires de 5-HT et de DA diminuant avec l'âge) ont été observés. De plus, les taux urinaires de DA et les taux sanguins de E sont corrélés avec les évaluations cliniques. Les résultats suggèrent un trouble de la maturation du système noradrénergique avec une perturbation possible du métabolisme dopaminergique et sérotoninergique, et un mauvais fonctionnement dans l'équilibre de ces neurotransmetteurs dans l'autisme.

Zusammenfassung

Es wurden die Spiegel für Serotonin (5-HT), Dopamin (DA), Noradrenalin (NA) und Adrenalin (A) im Blut und Urin für 23 Kinder mit frühkindlichem Autismus bestimmt und mit den Werten normaler Kinder verglichen. Es ergaben sich sehr signifikante Gruppeneffekte (niedrige Blutspiegel für 5-HT, hohe Urinspiegel für 5-HT und hohes NA plus A bei Kindern mit Autismus) und Alterseffekte (Abnahme mit zunehmendem Alter für Urinspiegel 5-HT und DA). Darüber hinaus waren die Urinspiegel für DA und Blutspiegel für A mit klinischen Befunden korreliert. Die Ergebnisse legen nahe, daß beim frühkindlichen Autismus ein Reifungsdefizit des noradrenergen Systems, möglicherweise auch ein gestörter dopaminerger und serotonerger Stoffwechsel und ein funktionelles Ungleichgewicht dieser Neurotransmitter vorliegt.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratoire de Biochimie Médicale, CHRU Bretonneau, INSERM U 316, F-37044, Tours Cedex, France

    Josiane Hérault, Jacqueline Jouve, Hervé Tournade & Jean-Pierre Muh

  2. Département de Psychopathologie et de Neurophysiologie du Développement, CHRU Bretonneau, INSERM U316, F-37044, Tours Cedex, France

    Joëlle Martineau, Anne Perrot-Beaugerie, Catherine Barthelemy & Gilbert Lelord

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  1. Josiane Hérault
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  2. Joëlle Martineau
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  3. Anne Perrot-Beaugerie
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  4. Jacqueline Jouve
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  5. Hervé Tournade
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  6. Catherine Barthelemy
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  7. Gilbert Lelord
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  8. Jean-Pierre Muh
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Hérault, J., Martineau, J., Perrot-Beaugerie, A. et al. Investigation of whole blood and urine monoamines in autism. European Child & Adolescent Psychiatry 2, 211–220 (1993). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02098580

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