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High blood monocyte counts and neopterin levels in children with autistic disorder
Thayne L Sweeten1, David J Posey, Christopher J McDougle
1Department of Psychiatry, Indiana University School of Medicine, 1111 West 10th Street, Indianapolis, IN 46202-4800, USA.
Objective:
Leukocyte counts and plasma neopterin levels were determined in autistic children and matched healthy comparison subjects.
Method:
Blood from 31 autistic children and 28 age- and gender-matched healthy comparison subjects was analyzed for numbers of neutrophils, eosinophils, basophils, lymphocytes, monocytes, and total leukocytes and for plasma neopterin levels.
Results:
The monocyte count and neopterin level were significantly higher in the autistic children than in the comparison subjects.
Conclusions:
These results suggest that the immune system may be activated in some children with autism.