Platelet serotonin as a biological marker of autism.

Authors

  • P Q Levy Laboratório de Genética, Faculdade de Medicina de Lisboa, Universidade de Lisboa.
  • M P Bicho

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.20344/amp.2522

Abstract

Platelet levels of serotonin were determined by a quantitative direct radioimmunoassay, in a group of autistic patients and a control group. Thirty six autistic patients (28 males and 8 females), all with severe mental retardation, and a group of 23 matched controls, were studied. The serotonin levels in autistic patients (mean +/- SD) (88.37 mmol/dl +/- 40.38) were significantly higher that in the control group (49.54 mmol/dl +/- 16.49). There were no significant differences in levels between the sexes and age groups among subjects in the patient and the control groups. We detected a hyperserotoninaemia in 70% of the autistic patients. We also discuss correlations between serotonin levels in our patients with known aetiologies and levels quoted in the literature and propose RIA to be used as a quick, easy and reliable method for the analysis of large numbers of samples.

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How to Cite

1.
Levy PQ, Bicho MP. Platelet serotonin as a biological marker of autism. Acta Med Port [Internet]. 1997 Dec. 31 [cited 2024 Nov. 22];10(12):927-31. Available from: https://actamedicaportuguesa.com/revista/index.php/amp/article/view/2522

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Arquivo Histórico