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Whole blood serotonin and tryptophan in autism: Temporal stability and the effects of medication

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Abstract

Whole blood serotonin (5-HT) was significantly increased in a drug-free autistic group (n=17) compared to age-and sex-matched normal control (n =20). Blood tryptophan (TRP) values and platelet counts were similar in unmedicated autistics and normal subjects; but whole blood concentrations of TRP were significantly lower, and 5-HT values tended to be lower in the medicated group compared to unmedicated autistics. Highly significant intraclass correlation coefficients and low mean percentage differences were found for repeated measures over a year's period of whole blood 5-HT and the platelet count in the unmedicated but not in the medicated group. Blood TRP values were highly variable over time in both the medicated and drug-free autistic groups.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Academic Hospital, Groningen, The Netherlands

    Ruud B. Minderaa

  2. Erasmus University, Rotterdam, The Netherlands

    Grard W. Akkerhuis

Authors
  1. Ruud B. Minderaa
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  2. George M. Anderson
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  3. Fred R. Volkmar
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  4. Diane Harcherick
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  5. Grard W. Akkerhuis
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  6. Donald J. Cohen
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Additional information

Child Study Center, Yale University

Child Study Center and Department of Laboratory Medicine, Yale University

We appreciate the collaboration of Dr. Amy Lettick and the Benhaven staff, as well as the help of medical and technical staff of the Yale University Health Services. We thank Karin Schlicht and Carla Hrbek for technical assistance and Inge Putter for editorial assistance, and are grateful for the help of the Children's Clinical Research Center Staff. Supported by NIMH grant MH30929, CCRC grant RR00125, NIH grant MH24393, the William T. Grant Foundation, Mr. Leonard Berger, The Gateposts Foundation, the Solomon R. & Rebecca D. Baker Foundation, and the Sophia Foundation for Medical Research.

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Minderaa, R.B., Anderson, G.M., Volkmar, F.R. et al. Whole blood serotonin and tryptophan in autism: Temporal stability and the effects of medication. J Autism Dev Disord 19, 129–136 (1989). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02212724

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