Blood tests may point to autistic spectrum disorders

Monday February 19th, 2018

British and Italian researchers today unveiled the first pathological tests devised to aid the diagnosis of autistic spectrum disorders.

The tests have emerged from detailed analysis of protein damage linked to the disorders.

Senior paediatricians warned today the findings should not be interpreted as “a test” for autism.

The researchers, based at the universities of Warwick and Birmingham in the UK and Bologna in Italy, says their findings could point to new causes of the disorders.

The researchers report that their most “reliable” test found high levels of dityrosine, an oxygen marker, and advanced glycation endpoints through studies of proteins in blood plasma.

The study, reported in Molecular Autism, involved 38 children with ASD from Bologna compared with 31 other children without the disorder.

Researcher Dr Naila Rabbani, from Warwick, said: "Our discovery could lead to earlier diagnosis and intervention.

"We hope the tests will also reveal new causative factors. With further testing we may reveal specific plasma and urinary profiles or ‘fingerprints’ of compounds with damaging modifications.

“This may help us improve the diagnosis of ASD and point the way to new causes of autistic spectrum disorder."

Dr Max Davie, from the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health warned: “This is a promising area however this is a very long way indeed from a test for autism.”

He said there was no data to indicate the test could be applied to very young children.

He added: “In terms of supplementing and supplanting clinical assessment, it is not clear what this will add, given that the specificity and sensitivity are less than perfect- if a child clinically does not look autistic, then this test will not persuade anyone that they are, as things currently stand.

“While we applaud the arrival of this interesting area of research, it is important that it is not adopted with too much enthusiasm - if applied to a large population is will produce large numbers of false positives, causing huge worry and potential harm to children and families.”

Molecular Autism 19 February 2018

Tags: Child Health | Europe | Genetics | UK News

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