Lower Cortisol and Higher ACTH Levels in Individuals with Autism
Journal of Autism and Developmental DisordersPublished 1 August 2003
Jasna Marinović Ćurin, Janoš Terzić, Zorana Bujas Petković, Ljubinka Zekan, Ivana Marinovic‐Terzić, Ivana Marasović Šušnjara
Citations93
SJR quartileQ1
SJR score1.23
SNIP1.79
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TL;DR
Blood concentrations of pituitary hormones adrenocorticotropin (ACTH), prolactin, growth hormone, and adrenal hormone–cortisol were measured and may indicate dysfunction of the hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal axis in individuals with autism.
Abstract
Blood concentrations of pituitary hormones adrenocorticotropin (ACTH), prolactin, growth hormone, and adrenal hormone-cortisol were measured in 36 autistic and 27 control individuals. Individuals with autism had significantly lower serum concentrations of cortisol (p < 10(-6)), and significantly higher concentrations of ACTH (p = 0.002) than control age- and sex-matched subjects. Also, prolactin concentrations in autistic patients with epilepsy were significantly higher when compared with normal subjects. The observed hormonal changes may indicate dysfunction of the hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal axis in individuals with autism.
Keywords
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