Abstract
Fenfluramine therapy has been reported to improve behavior in infantile autism and has been associated with a decrease in abnormally increased blood serotonin content. The primary central effect has not been proved to be serotonergic. Beta-endorphin is involved in the anorexic effect of fenfluramine and may play a role in autism. Nine children with infantile autism were treated with fenfluramine in double-blind, placebocrossover design. Transient anorexia was the only adverse effect. Autistic behavior was reported to improve in three patients, but objective psychometric tests were unchanged. Beta-endorphin-like immunoreactivity was determined in lumbar cerebrospinal fluid of patients during and before or after treatment with fenfluramine and then was compared to normal controls. Beta-endorphin was elevated significantly in the baseline autistic group (p < .005) and was reduced toward control values during fenfluramine treatment. The results are consistent with a role for beta-endorphin in infantile autism and in the mechanism of fenfluramine treatment.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 83-86 |
Number of pages | 4 |
Journal | Pediatric Neurology |
Volume | 3 |
Issue number | 2 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - 1987 |
Externally published | Yes |
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Pediatrics, Perinatology, and Child Health
- Neurology
- Developmental Neuroscience
- Clinical Neurology