Assessment of lipocalin-1, resistin, cathepsin-D, neurokinin A, agmatine, NGF, and BDNF serum levels in children with Autism Spectrum Disorder

Abstract Objectives Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a neurological and developmental disorder that affects all aspects of social communication, with stereotypical and limited interest and atypical responses to sensory stimuli. There isn’t a reliable lab test that can help clinicians diagnose ASD. This study aimed to examine serum lipocalin-1, resistin, cathepsin-D, neurokinin A, agmatinase, brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), nerve growth factor (NGF), and glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) levels in children with ASD. Methods The study had 40 matched control subjects and 39 ASD sufferers in total. The diagnosis was made by medical professionals using the Gilliam Autistic Disorder Rating Scale-2-TV (GOBDÖ-2-TV), Denver Developmental Screening Test, and Porteus Intelligence Tests. Results Compared to the control group, serum levels of lipocalin-1, resistin, cathepsin-D, agmatinase, BDNF, and NGF were found to be high and GFAP levels were low in children having ASD. B12 and magnesium levels were significantly lower in the ASD group than in the control group, while sodium and chloride levels were higher in the ASD group (p<0.05). Conclusions The aforementioned parameters may be involved in the pathophysiology of ASD, as evidenced by the fact that their values were greater in children with ASD than in controls. Additionally, evaluation of some routinely measured biochemical parameters may suggest that nutritional and electrolyte balance may differ in individuals with ASD.