Monoamines (serotonin and catecholamines) and their derivatives in infantile autism: age-related changes and drug effects.

Levels of dopamine (DA) and its derivatives homovanillic acid (HVA), 3-4 dihydroxyphenylacetic acid (DOPAC), 3-methoxytyramine (3MT) and norepinephrine+epinephrine (NE + E), and serotonin (5HT) and its derivative 5-hydroxyindolacetic acid (5HIAA) were determined from the urine of 156 autistic children aged two to 12 years 6 months, and compared with those of age-matched mentally retarded non-autistic and normal controls. Very significant group and age effects were found for DA, HVA, 3MT, NE + E and 5HT. High HVA, 3MT, NE + E and 5HT levels were found in autistic and non-autistic children. The DA, HVA, 3MT, NE + E, 5HT and 5HIAA levels decreased significantly with age in the three groups. Significantly decreased levels of DA and HVA were observed in autistic children on haloperidol, compared with non-medicated autistic children. The results are discussed in relation to the hypothesis of a maturation defect of monoaminergic systems in autism.