自闭症谱系障碍(ASD)是一组神经发育障碍,由社交互动中的缺陷以及限制性和刻板的行为或兴趣的存在定义。自闭症的病因仍然未知。许多遗传和环境因素被怀疑。在这些环境因素中,接触几种化学元素之前已经研究过。这项研究的目的是比较ASD儿童与典型发育儿童(TDC)血浆中微量元素的水平。这项研究的参与者包括89名ASD儿童(14名女孩和74名男孩)和70名TD儿童(29名女孩和41名男孩)。已通过电感耦合等离子体光谱法(ICP-MS)分析了33种化学元素的水平。我们发现两组之间的八种元素水平存在显着差异,其中有三种稀土元素(REE):Eu,Pr,和Sc(分别为p=0.000,p=0.023和p<0.001);四种重金属:Bi,Tl,Ti,和V(分别为p=0.004,p<0.001,p=0.001和p=0.001);和一种必需元素:Cu(p=0.043)。ASD患儿的Er水平较高,Pr,Sc,Bi,Tl,Ti,V,与TD组相比,Cu含量较低。与未接触的儿童相比,被动吸烟的儿童的铅(Pb)水平较低(p=0.018)。四种元素(Cr,呃,Dy,和Pr)与ASD的严重程度呈负相关。铜水平与自闭症儿童的行为显著相关(p=0.014)。这些结果表明,患有ASD的儿童可能存在某些化学元素的异常血浆水平(包括Er,Pr,Sc,Bi,Tl,Ti,V,和铜),这些元素中的一些可能与某些临床特征有关。
Autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) are a group of neurodevelopmental disorders defined by a deficit in social interactions and the presence of restricted and stereotypical behaviors or interests. The etiologies of autism remain mostly unknown. Many genetic and environmental factors have been suspected. Among these environmental factors, exposure to several chemical elements has been previously studied. The purpose of this
study was to compare the levels of trace elements in the blood plasma of children with ASD with typically developed children (TDC). The participants in this
study consisted of 89 children with ASD (14 girls and 74 boys) and 70 TD children (29 girls and 41 boys). The levels of 33 chemical elements have been analyzed by inductively coupled plasma spectrometry (ICP-MS). We detected significant differences in the levels of eight elements between the two groups, among which there were three rare earth elements (REEs): Eu, Pr, and Sc (p = 0.000, p = 0.023, and p < 0.001 respectively); four heavy metals: Bi, Tl, Ti, and V (p = 0.004, p < 0.001, p = 0.001, and p = 0.001 respectively); and one essential element: Cu (p = 0.043). Children with ASD had higher levels of Er, Pr, Sc, Bi, Tl, Ti, and V, and lower levels of Cu in comparison with the TD group. The children exposed to passive smoking had lower levels of lead (Pb) compared with children without exposure (p = 0.018). Four elements (Cr, Er, Dy, and Pr) were negatively correlated to the severity of ASD. The level of Cu was significantly associated with autistic children\'s behavior (p = 0.014). These results suggest that children with ASD might have abnormal plasma levels of certain chemical elements (including Er, Pr, Sc, Bi, Tl, Ti, and V, and Cu), and some of these elements might be associated with certain clinical features.