Beta-endorphin levels in peripheral blood mononuclear cells and long-term naltrexone treatment in autistic children

Beta-endorphin levels in peripheral blood mononuclear cells and long-term naltrexone treatment in autistic children

Cazzullo AG; Musetti MC; Musetti L; Bajo S; Sacerdote P; Panerai A

European Neuropsychopharmacology

1999

Child; Humans; Preschool; Biomarkers of Pain; Leukocytes; beta-Endorphin/metabolism; Autistic Disorder/drug therapy/metabolism; Cognition/drug effects; Mononuclear/drug effects/metabolism; Naltrexone/pharmacology/therapeutic use; Narcotic Antagonists/pharmacology/therapeutic use; Stereotyped Behavior/drug effects

We assessed the clinical and biological effects of high-dose, long-term Naltrexone (NTX) treatment in 11 children (3-11 years), who had been diagnosed as autistic. The drug was given following an open design, for 12 weeks. Beta-Endorphin (beta-END) was assayed in peripheral blood mononuclear cells after 1 and 3 months of treatment, and 6 months after the completion of the course. Baseline beta-END levels were higher than in healthy age-matched controls. In seven patients treatment reduced beta-END, whose levels rose in four children. Autistic symptoms were considerably attenuated in all cases, with functional improvements involving several areas. There was a close correlation between the reduction in beta-END levels and the decrease of social withdrawal, and an evident--though weak--correlation between increases in beta-END and decreases in stereotypy and abnormal speech. Both effects persisted after treatment stopped.

1999

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