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In vitro platelet function in infantile autism
S Safai-Kutti1, I Denfors, J Kutti
1Paediatric Clinic, Biskopsgården, Göteborg, Sweden.
Insights
Children with infantile autism showed reduced platelet aggregation in vitro. Further research with more tests and patients is needed to understand this platelet defect in autism.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Hematology
- Developmental Pediatrics
Background:
- Previous studies indicate impaired in vivo platelet behavior in infantile autism.
- Platelet dysfunction may be a contributing factor or biomarker in autism spectrum disorder.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate in vitro platelet reactivity in children diagnosed with infantile autism.
- To compare platelet aggregation responses to adenosine diphosphate (ADP) and collagen between autistic children and healthy controls.
Main Methods:
- Studied 14 children with infantile autism (ages 2-14) and 12 healthy control boys (ages 6-15).
- Assessed in vitro platelet aggregation using various concentrations of ADP and collagen.
- Measured platelet aggregability as an indicator of platelet function.
Main Results:
- Autistic children consistently demonstrated diminished platelet aggregability at all tested concentrations of ADP and collagen.
- Observed differences in platelet aggregation between autistic children and controls did not reach statistical significance.
- Platelet reactivity in infantile autism warrants further investigation.
Conclusions:
- A wider range of in vitro tests is necessary to fully elucidate the platelet defect in infantile autism.
- Larger patient cohorts are required for statistically significant findings regarding platelet function in autism.
- Investigating platelet behavior may offer insights into the pathophysiology of infantile autism.
Abstract:
It has previously been demonstrated that patients with infantile autism demonstrate impaired in vivo platelet behaviour. Therefore, in 14 children (13 boys and 1 girl) with infantile autism (aged 2-14, mean 6 years) and 12 healthy control boys (aged 6-15, mean 11 years) we studied in vitro platelet reactivity using ADP- and collagen-induced platelet aggregation. In each child a total of 7 different final concentrations of ADP and 4 different concentrations of collagen were employed. At all concentrations of ADP and collagen used the autistic children consistently exhibited diminished platelet aggregability; the differences, however, did not reach statistical significance. Therefore a wider panel of in vitro tests is apparently required and a larger group of patients be studied to help elucidate the functional/metabolic platelet defect met in infantile autism.