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Amino compounds and organic acids in CSF, plasma, and urine of autistic children
Insights
Childhood psychosis patients showed higher cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) ethanolamine levels. This suggests a potential brain disorder involving ethanolamine metabolism in some children with autism.
Area of Science:
- Neurochemistry
- Metabolic Disorders
- Child Psychiatry
Background:
- Childhood psychoses, including infantile autism, represent complex neurodevelopmental disorders.
- Understanding the underlying biochemical mechanisms is crucial for diagnosis and treatment.
- Previous research has explored various biomarkers, but specific metabolic alterations remain under investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate amino acid and organic acid levels in patients with childhood psychoses.
- To compare these levels with those in healthy control children.
- To identify potential metabolic markers associated with psychosis and autism.
Main Methods:
- Amino acid analysis using an amino acid analyzer in plasma and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF).
- Gas chromatography for organic acid determination in urine, plasma, and CSF.
- Comparison of metabolite concentrations between psychotic children (including autistic) and control groups.
Main Results:
- Significantly elevated mean ethanolamine concentration in the CSF of psychotic children compared to controls.
- No evidence of known inherited organic acid metabolism diseases in the psychotic patients.
- Potential association between higher CSF ethanolamine and a subgroup of autistic children.
Conclusions:
- Elevated CSF ethanolamine may indicate a brain disorder related to ethanolamine metabolism in some children with psychosis/autism.
- Further advanced analytical techniques are needed to explore potential subtle organic acid abnormalities.
- This study highlights ethanolamine as a potential biomarker requiring further investigation in childhood psychoses.
Abstract:
Amino compounds were measured with an amino acid analyzer in the fasting plasma of 34 patients with childhood psychoses (28 having infantile autism) and 40 control children, and in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of 19 of the psychotic children and 23 control children. Organic acids were determined by gas chromatography in urine, plasma, and CSF of the psychotic patients. The mean concentration of ethanolamine in CSF was significantly higher in psychotic children than in control subjects. A subgroup of autistic children may possibly have a brain disorder involving ethanolamine metabolism. None of the known inherited diseases of organic acid metabolism was found in any of the psychotic children, but future studies utilizing sophisticated gas chromatography--mass spectrometry--computer techniques might disclose abnormal organic acid content in the CSF of such patients.