[Disorders of catecholamine metabolism in infantile autism. Comparative study of 22 autistic children]

Abstract

In a group of 22 autistic children aged 5 to 16 y., and a group of normal controls matched for age and sex, catecholamines metabolism has been investigated in plasma, platelets and urine. This investigation was part of a research project in which several biological parameters (including serotonin) were simultaneously explored in the same children. In the autistic group, epinephrine and norepinephrine and dopamine were significantly lower in isolated platelets, and no significant difference was found between the two groups for the urinary excretion of epinephrine, norepinephrine, dopamine, DOPAC and MHPG. Other differences between the two groups in the statistical correlations of several biochemical parameters (plasma norepinephrine and dopamine with platelet MAO activity, platelet norepinephrine with platelet dopamine, platelet dopamine, platelet dopamine with platelet serotonin) also suggest abnormalities of bioamine metabolism in the platelets of autistic children.