A Double-Blind Placebo-Controlled Trial of Acediprol (Valproate Sodium) For Global Severity in Child Autism Spectrum Disorders

Abstract

Currently, disorders of the autism spectrum are the most urgent problem of modern psychiatry. It is no accident that the Sixty-Seventh World Health Assembly adopted a resolution called "WHA67.8 Integrated and coordinated efforts to combat autism spectrum disorders." In particular, the document says: "Understanding that autism spectrum disorders are developmental disorders and conditions that emerge in early childhood and, in most cases, persist throughout the lifespan and are marked by the presence of impaired development in social interaction and communication and a restricted repertoire of activity and interest, with or without accompanying intellectual and language disabilities; and that manifestations of the disorder vary greatly in terms of combinations and levels of severity of symptoms"[1]. In one hand, last several decades based on epidemiological studies conducted over the past 50 years, the prevalence of autism spectrum disorders (ASD) appears to be increasing globally.There are many possible explanations for this apparent increase, including improved awareness, expansion of diagnostic criteria, better diagnostic tools and improved reporting. It is estimated that worldwide 1 in 160 children has an ASD. Other authors indicated that autism spectrum disorder currently estimated to affect between 1 and 1.5% of children and adults worldwide [2,3]. In other hand, the cost of supporting an individual with an ASD and

Paradoxical Effects of a Cytokine and an Anticonvulsant Strengthen the Epigenetic/Enzymatic Avenue for Autism Research

“…In order to remedy the latter, methylphenidate could complete VPA at the pharmacological level, without mutual interference (Béroule, 2019). This favorable outcome has been corroborated by a double-blind placebocontrolled trial of the same VPA-based drug, involving 100 children and using a global rating scale of ASD; 80% of the treated subjects showed significant global improvement, compared with 12% in subjects having received a placebo (Aliyev and Aliyev, 2018). The researchers who conducted this clinical study eventually gave neurobiological interpretations that are often put forward to explain autism, relating the amplitude of sodium-dependent action potentials, as well as the inhibitory GABA neurotransmitters.…”

“…Temporary improvements have been reported in autistic individuals who experienced fever (Yim et al, 2017 ; Grzadzinski et al, 2018 ) or followed an antiepileptic treatment based on VPA (Hollander et al, 2001 ; Aliyev and Aliyev, 2018 ; Béroule, 2019 ). As introduced above, such reduction of symptoms is surprising because both medical conditions can also produce adverse effects during pregnancy (Patterson, 2011 ; Meador et al, 2013 ).…”

“…The survey reported here has been motivated by the identification of an intriguing phenomenon relating recent trials of molecules with potential impact on autism. As a matter of fact, paradoxical data were issued by distinct scientific experiments whose respective molecular targets [i.e., IL-17a cytokine and valproate (VPA) anticonvulsant] were found to alleviate autistic symptoms (Yim et al, 2017 ; Aliyev and Aliyev, 2018 ), albeit previously seen as “at risk” if absorbed by the embryonic brain (Schneider and Przewłocki, 2005 ; Christensen et al, 2013 ; Wong and Hoeffer, 2018 ). In other words, separate studies suggest that some molecules can be implicated in the etiology of ASD when interfering with gestation, while providing potential remedies against overt autism.…”