Health
Growth hormone levels seen as autism signal
NEWS IN BRIEF — Posted July 16, 2007
Boys with autism and autism spectrum disorder, or ASD, had higher levels of growth hormones compared with boys who did not have either condition, according to researchers from the National Institutes of Health, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Cincinnati Children's Hospital and the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine.
The researchers believe that higher hormone levels might explain the larger head circumference seen in many children with autism. In addition to increased head size, boys with autism and ASD were heavier than those without the conditions.
The researchers compared height, weight, head circumference and levels of growth-related hormones with growth and maturation in 71 boys with autism and ASD to 59 boys who did not have those conditions.
The study was published online in Clinical Endocrinology.
Note: This item originally appeared at http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2007/07/16/hlbf0716.htm.
