Higher plasma ACTH levels in adults with Asperger syndrome

Tani, Pekka; Lindberg, Nina; Matto, V.; Appelberg, Björn; Wendt, Taina Nieminen-von; Wendt, Lennart von; Porkka‐Heiskanen, Tarja

doi:10.1016/j.jpsychores.2004.12.004

Cited by 36 publications

(31 citation statements)

References 21 publications

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“…An increase in ACTH levels in people with autism is the most consistent result reported from studies of anterior pituitary hormones [3,4,6,10]. In functional imaging studies of the limbic system, which is the neural basis of emotions and social interactions, people with autism have been shown to have impaired circuitry in extinguishing fear responses [21].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 82%

“…The anterior pituitary gland synthesises and secretes adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH), growth hormone (GH), follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) and prolactin (PRL). Of these hormones, ACTH deserves special attention, because it is the hormone involved in the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, which may be affected in autism [3,4,6,9-11]. The HPA axis is the basis for emotion and social interaction, through the synthesis and/or release of corticotropin-releasing hormone, ACTH and cortisol.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The HPA axis is the basis for emotion and social interaction, through the synthesis and/or release of corticotropin-releasing hormone, ACTH and cortisol. All previous studies that have measured basal ACTH levels in autism have shown an increase in the serum/plasma levels of this hormone [3,4,6,10], except for one study that showed no difference [7]. Unlike the results for ACTH, the results for serum cortisol levels in autism are inconsistent, with studies reporting either no difference between patients and controls [3,5-7] or a decrease in patients [4,10].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Investigation of the serum levels of anterior pituitary hormones in male children with autism

et al. 2011

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BackgroundThe neurobiological basis of autism remains poorly understood. The diagnosis of autism is based solely on behavioural characteristics because there are currently no reliable biological markers. To test whether the anterior pituitary hormones and cortisol could be useful as biological markers for autism, we assessed the basal serum levels of these hormones in subjects with autism and normal controls.FindingsUsing a suspension array system, we determined the serum levels of six anterior pituitary hormones, including adrenocorticotropic hormone and growth hormone, in 32 drug-naive subjects (aged 6 to 18 years, all boys) with autism, and 34 healthy controls matched for age and gender. We also determined cortisol levels in these subjects by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Serum levels of adrenocorticotropic hormone, growth hormone and cortisol were significantly higher in subjects with autism than in controls. In addition, there was a significantly positive correlation between cortisol and adrenocorticotropic hormone levels in autism.ConclusionOur results suggest that increased basal serum levels of adrenocorticotropic hormone accompanied by increased cortisol and growth hormone may be useful biological markers for autism.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 82%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Investigation of the serum levels of anterior pituitary hormones in male children with autism

et al. 2011

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“…Given the high rate of anxiety and heightened arousal symptoms in individuals with autism, stress hormone levels have been investigated in several small case-control studies (32,161,163) producing variable results. However, the prenatal maternal stress response, especially before 32 weeks gestation when the fetal limbic system is considered to be most vulnerable (14), may be of potentially greater etiologic significance.…”

Section: Wwwannualreviewsorg • the Epidemiology Of Autism Spectrum mentioning

confidence: 99%

The Epidemiology of Autism Spectrum Disorders

Newschaffer

Croen

Daniels

et al. 2007

Annu. Rev. Public Health

987

640

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Autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) are complex, lifelong, neurodevelopmental conditions of largely unknown cause. They are much more common than previously believed, second in frequency only to mental retardation among the serious developmental disorders. Although a heritable component has been demonstrated in ASD etiology, putative risk genes have yet to be identified. Environmental risk factors may also play a role, perhaps via complex gene-environment interactions, but no specific exposures with significant population effects are known. A number of endogenous biomarkers associated with autism risk have been investigated, and these may help identify significant biologic pathways that, in turn, will aid in the discovery of specific genes and exposures. Future epidemiologic research should focus on expanding population-based descriptive data on ASDs, exploring candidate risk factors in large well-designed studies incorporating both genetic and environmental exposure data and addressing possible etiologic heterogeneity in studies that can stratify case groups and consider alternate endophenotypes.

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“…A number of other investigations (see Table 1) have examined morning cortisol levels for children through adults with ASD, using saliva (Corbett et al, 2006; Corbett et al, 2008; Kidd et al, 2012), plasma (Ćurin et al, 2003; Hamza et al, 2010; Nir et al, 1995; Sandman et al, 1991; Strous et al, 2005; Tani et al, 2005; Tordjman et al, 1997), and urine (Richdale and Prior, 1992). The majority of these investigations found no differences in morning values between individuals with ASD and typically developing controls, with the exception of two studies (Ćurin et al, 2003; Hamza et al, 2010) finding lower levels of cortisol in individuals with ASD.…”

Section: Rhythm Of Cortisol In Asdmentioning

confidence: 99%

A review of rhythm and responsiveness of cortisol in individuals with autism spectrum disorders

Taylor¹,

Corbett²

2014

Psychoneuroendocrinology

143

131

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Examination of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis via cortisol among individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) has been a growing area of research interest. The following review includes investigations of cortisol conducted with cohorts of individuals with ASD across the lifespan over the past four decades. In general, studies find dysregulation when examining the diurnal rhythm as a whole in lower functioning children with ASD; however, limited evidence exists for alterations in higher functioning individuals and in specific aspects of the diurnal cycle (cortisol awakening response, daily decline, variability) relative to typically developing individuals. Studies examining the responsiveness of cortisol in ASD suggest an overall sluggishness of the HPA axis in responding to physiological or physical manipulation. Hypo-responsiveness was observed in stressors that involve social evaluative threat, however, hyper-responsiveness of the HPA axis was observed in situations involving unpleasant stimuli or relatively benign social situations. A number of important considerations when conducting studies of cortisol in ASD cohorts are discussed.

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Higher plasma ACTH levels in adults with Asperger syndrome

Cited by 36 publications

References 21 publications

Investigation of the serum levels of anterior pituitary hormones in male children with autism

Investigation of the serum levels of anterior pituitary hormones in male children with autism

The Epidemiology of Autism Spectrum Disorders

A review of rhythm and responsiveness of cortisol in individuals with autism spectrum disorders

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