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Gangliosides in cerebrospinal fluid in children with autism spectrum disorders
Author(s) -
Nordin Viviann,
Lekman Annika,
Johansson Maria,
Fredman Pam,
Gillberg Christopher
Publication year - 1998
Publication title -
developmental medicine and child neurology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.658
H-Index - 143
eISSN - 1469-8749
pISSN - 0012-1622
DOI - 10.1111/j.1469-8749.1998.tb15423.x
Subject(s) - ganglioside , autism , cerebrospinal fluid , sialic acid , autism spectrum disorder , medicine , psychiatry , biology , biochemistry
Gangliosides are sialic acid‐containing glycolipids found in all cells, especially abundant in nerve cells and mainly situated on outer‐membrane surfaces. The aim of this study was to provide data on the concentration of gangliosides in the CSF of children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) ‐ 66 with autistic disorder, and 19 with other autism spectrum disorders. The comparison group consisted of 29 children and adolescents, whose CSF had been sampled to exclude acute infectious CNS disorder. The concentrations of the gangliosides GM1, GD1a, GD1b, and GT1b were determined using a microimmunoaffinity technique. The ASD group had a significantly higher concentration of ganglioside GM1 compared with the comparison group. The GM1 increase could not be explained as secondary to other clinical factors. Mean ganglioside levels did not differentiate subgroups with autistic disorder and those with a more atypical clinical picture, nor subgroups with known medical disorders and those with idiopathic autism. Altered patterns of gangliosides in the CNS might reflect important correlates of pathogenesis in autism.