Preliminary Observations on the Effect of Fenfluramine on Blood Serotonin and Symptoms in Three Autistic Boys

• Published in: The New England journal of medicine Vol. 307; no. 3; pp. 165 - 169
• Main Authors: Geller, Edward, Ritvo, Edward R, Freeman, Betty Jo, Yuwiler, Arthur
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Massachusetts Medical Society 15.07.1982
• Subjects: Autism; Autistic Disorder - blood; Autistic Disorder - drug therapy; Autistic Disorder - genetics; Blood platelets; Boys; Case reports; Child & adolescent psychiatry; Child development; Child, Preschool; Children & youth; Diseases in Twins - drug therapy; Drug dosages; Eye contact; Families & family life; Fenfluramine; Fenfluramine - administration & dosage; Fenfluramine - therapeutic use; Humans; Intelligence Tests; Laboratories; Male; Medical research; Metabolic disorders; Patients; Serotonin; Serotonin - blood; Values
• ISSN: 0028-4793; 1533-4406
• DOI: 10.1056/NEJM198207153070307

THE syndrome of autism is a pervasive developmental disorder. It is diagnosed by the presence before 30 months of age of disturbances in the rate of development and coordination of physical, social, and language skills, abnormal responses to sensory inputs (hyperreactivity alternates with hyporeactivity), absence of speech and language or a delay in acquiring them although specific cognitive capacities may be present, and disturbance of the capacity to relate appropriately to people, events, and objects. 1 , 2 Autistic persons have been identified throughout the world and come from all races and social classes. No psychological or other factors have been identified that . . .