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Comparative Study
. 2006 Dec 30;30(8):1529-31.
doi: 10.1016/j.pnpbp.2006.06.018. Epub 2006 Jul 28.

Reduced serum levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor in adult male patients with autism

Kenji Hashimoto  1 , Yasuhide Iwata, Kazuhiko Nakamura, Masatsugu Tsujii, Kenji J Tsuchiya, Yoshimoto Sekine, Katsuaki Suzuki, Yoshio Minabe, Nori Takei, Masaomi Iyo, Norio Mori
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Comparative Study

Reduced serum levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor in adult male patients with autism

Kenji Hashimoto et al. Prog Neuropsychopharmacol Biol Psychiatry. .

Erratum in

  • Prog Neuropsychopharmacol Biol Psychiatry. 2007 Mar 30;31(2):592

Abstract

Background: The precise mechanisms underlying the pathophysiology of autism are currently unknown. Given the key role of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in brain development, we hypothesized that BDNF may play a role in the pathophysiology of autism. In this study, we studied whether serum levels of BDNF are altered in patients with autism.

Methods: We measured serum levels of BDNF in 18 adult male patients with autism and 18 age-matched healthy male control subjects.

Results: The serum levels of BDNF in patients with autism (25.6+/-2.15 ng/ml (mean+/-S.D.)) were significantly (z = -4.42, p < 0.001) lower than those of normal controls (61.6+/-10.9 ng/ml (mean+/-S.D.)). Nevertheless, we found no correlations between BDNF levels and clinical variables in autistic patients.

Conclusions: This study suggests that reduced BDNF levels may play a role in the pathophysiology of autism.

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