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Neuropediatrics 2011; 42(05): 207-209
DOI: 10.1055/s-0031-1291242
Short Communication
© Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

Effects of Fluoxetine Treatment on Striatal Dopamine Transporter Binding and Cerebrospinal Fluid Insulin-Like Growth Factor-1 in Children with Autism

I. Makkonen
1   Department of Pediatrics, Unit of Child Neurology, Kuopio University Hospital and School of Medicine, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland
,
H. Kokki
2   Department of Anesthesiology and Intensive Care, Kuopio University Hospital and School of Medicine, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland
,
J. Kuikka
3   Imaging Center, Kuopio University Hospital and School of Medicine, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland
,
U. Turpeinen
4   HUSLAB, Laboratory of Women’s Clinic, Helsinki, Finland
,
R. Riikonen
1   Department of Pediatrics, Unit of Child Neurology, Kuopio University Hospital and School of Medicine, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland
› Author Affiliations
Further Information

Publication History

received 24 February 2011

accepted 21 September 2011

Publication Date:
20 October 2011 (online)

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Abstract

A positive effect of fluoxetine has been shown in some children with autism. The present study was undertaken to correlate striatal dopamine transporter (DAT) binding and cerebrospinal fluid insulin-like growth factor-1 (CSF-IGF-1) with clinical response in autistic children (n=13, age 5–16 years) after a 6-month fluoxetine treatment. Good clinical responders (n=6) had a decrease (p=0.031) in DAT binding as assessed using single-photon emission computed tomography with [123I]-nor-β-CIT, whereas poor responders had a trend to an increase. An increase in CSF-IGF-1 (p=0.003) was detected after the treatment period, but no correlation between the clinical response and CSF-IGF-1 was found. In conclusion, fluoxetine decreases DAT binding indicating alleviation of the hyperdopaminergic state and increases CSF-IGF-1 concentration, which may also have a neuroprotective effect against dopamine-induced neurotoxicity in autistic children.

Key words

autism - dopamine transporter - fluoxetine - insulin-like growth factor-1
 

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