Potential Biochemical Markers in Egyptian Children with Autistic Disorder

Abstract

Autism is a disorder of neural development characterized by impaired social interaction, verbal and nonverbal communication, also by restricted and stereotyped behavior. Our study objective was to measure some biochemical markers in autistic children and their matched control. There is evidence that oxygen free radicals play an important role in the pathophysiology of many neuropsychiatric disorders. Oxidative stress modifies the normal intracellular balance between reactive oxygen species (ROS) produced during aerobic metabolism and antioxidant defense mechanisms, which perform the function of free radical inactivation. The subjects under study were divided into four group mild, moderate, severe autistic patients and normal healthy control. The results showed the level of glutathione peroxidase was significantly lower in autistic children comparing to control while, isoprostane level was clearly higher in autistic children comparing to control. The level of Nitric Oxide was significantly higher in autistic children comparing to control. In addition, both ceruloplasmin and transferrin showed a lower level in autistic children. In the meantime, the level of BDNF which was significantly elevated in autistic children while, the level of Zinc was much lower in autistic children comparing to control.