This Article  • References  • Full text PDF  • Send to a friend  • Save in My Folder  • Save to citation manager  • Permissions  Citing Articles  • Citation map  • Citing articles on HighWire  • Contact me when this article is cited  Related Content  • Similar articles in this journal  Social Bookmarking   What's this?

Reed P. Warren, PhD; Roger A. Burger, MS; Dennis Odell, MD; Anthony R. Torres, MD; W. Louise Warren, RN

Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med. 1994;148(2):180-183.

Abstract
Objective
To determine complement C4 protein concentrations in the plasmas of autistic subjects and their family members.

Design
Cross-sectional study.

Setting
Center for Persons with Disabilities and the Department of Biology, Utah State University, Logan.

Participants
Forty-two autistic subjects (34 males [81%] and eight females [19%]), 50 of their biologic parents, 21 siblings, and 105 normal subjects (56 females [53%] and 49 males [47%]; all white) living in northern Utah.

Interventions
None.

Methods
The enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was used to determine C4 protein concentrations in autistic subjects.

Main Results
Plasma concentration (median, 14.7 g/L of the C4B protein) in autistic patients was significantly (P=.01) decreased compared with that of normal subjects (median, 22.4 g/L). The C4B concentrations in parents and siblings of autistic children were decreased, but not significantly. The C4A protein concentrations in the plasma of autistic subjects and their family members were normal.

Conclusion
Decreased protein concentrations of C4B may be associated with autism.

(Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med. 1994;148:180-183)

Author Affiliations
From the Center for Persons with Disabilities and the Department of Biology, Utah State University, Logan.

CiteULike    Connotea    Del.icio.us    Digg    Reddit    Technorati    Twitter     What's this?

THIS ARTICLE HAS BEEN CITED BY OTHER ARTICLES

Maternal Autoimmune Diseases, Asthma and Allergies, and Childhood Autism Spectrum Disorders: A Case-control Study
Croen et al.
Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med 2005;159:151-157.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Effectiveness of N,N-Dimethylglycine in Autism and Pervasive Developmental Disorder
Kern et al.
J Child Neurol 2001;16:169-173.
ABSTRACT  

Prolongation of Brainstem Auditory-Evoked Responses in Autistic Probands and Their Unaffected Relatives
Maziade et al.
Arch Gen Psychiatry 2000;57:1077-1083.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Psychopharmacology in Autism
Tsai
Psychosom. Med. 1999;61:651-665.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT