<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><bold>Background:</bold> Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a serious neurodevelopmental disorder associated with autonomic nervous system (ANS) abnormalities. Moreover, at least 50% of children with ASD suffer from other comorbid diseases such as anxiety, depression, and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) associated with receiving psychotropic medication. From this context we aimed to evaluate changes in sympathetic arousal using analysis of electrodermal activity (EDA) as an index of sympathetic cholinergic activity in treated and non-treated autistic children under resting conditions.<bold>Methods:</bold> We examined 23 children with ASD and 14 healthy age- and gender-matched children at the age of 7–15 years. The ASD patients were divided into ASD non-treated group (n=12) and ASD treated group (n=11). The EDA was continuously monitored during resting phase in a supine position. The EDA amplitude (μS) was computed as an average of 5 min baseline period.<bold>Results:</bold> We found significantly lower EDA in ASD non-treated subgroup compared to controls indicating subtle abnormalities in the regulation of the sympathetic nervous system. Although no significant differences were found between the ASD treated and non-treated subgroups the ASD treated group showed comparable sympathetic activity relative to controls indicating a potential ameliorated treatment effect on sympathetic arousal in ASD.<bold>Conclusions:</bold> These findings could help to determine differences in sympathetic arousal in treated and non-treated children with ASD, which is important for assessment of autism-linked cardiovascular risk depending on pharmacotherapy.</abstract>

Background: Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a serious neurodevelopmental disorder associated with autonomic nervous system (ANS) abnormalities. Moreover, at least 50% of children with ASD suffer from other comorbid diseases such as anxiety, depression, and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) associated with receiving psychotropic medication. From this context we aimed to evaluate changes in sympathetic arousal using analysis of electrodermal activity (EDA) as an index of sympathetic cholinergic activity in treated and non-treated autistic children under resting conditions.Methods: We examined 23 children with ASD and 14 healthy age- and gender-matched children at the age of 7–15 years. The ASD patients were divided into ASD non-treated group (n=12) and ASD treated group (n=11). The EDA was continuously monitored during resting phase in a supine position. The EDA amplitude (μS) was computed as an average of 5 min baseline period.Results: We found significantly lower EDA in ASD non-treated subgroup compared to controls indicating subtle abnormalities in the regulation of the sympathetic nervous system. Although no significant differences were found between the ASD treated and non-treated subgroups the ASD treated group showed comparable sympathetic activity relative to controls indicating a potential ameliorated treatment effect on sympathetic arousal in ASD.Conclusions: These findings could help to determine differences in sympathetic arousal in treated and non-treated children with ASD, which is important for assessment of autism-linked cardiovascular risk depending on pharmacotherapy.

Potential Effect of Pharmacotherapy on Sympathetic Arousal in Autism

Biomedical Center Martin, Jessenius Faculty of Medicine in Martin

Department of Physiology, Jessenius Faculty of Medicine in Martin

Department of Nursing, Jessenius Faculty of Medicine in Martin

Clinic of Psychiatry, Jessenius Faculty of Medicine in Martin

Comenius University in Bratislava, University Hospital Martin

Acta Medica Martiniana

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

{"article-title":"Potential Effect of Pharmacotherapy on Sympathetic Arousal in Autism"}

Background: Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a serious neurodevelopmental disorder associated with autonomic nervous system (ANS) abnormalities. Moreover, at...

Potential Effect of Pharmacotherapy on Sympathetic Arousal in Autism

Publicado en línea: 20 feb 2018

Páginas: 16 - 23

Recibido: 18 ene 2018

Aceptado: 23 ene 2018

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1515/acm-2017-0013

Palabras clave
autism spectrum disorder, comorbidity, pharmacotherapy, sympathetic nervous system, electrodermal activity

© 2017 Bujnakova I et al., published by De Gruyter Open

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Potential Effect of Pharmacotherapy on Sympathetic Arousal in Autism

Publicado en línea: 20 feb 2018

Páginas: 16 - 23

Recibido: 18 ene 2018

Aceptado: 23 ene 2018

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1515/acm-2017-0013

Palabras claveautism spectrum disorder, comorbidity, pharmacotherapy, sympathetic nervous system, electrodermal activity

© 2017 Bujnakova I et al., published by De Gruyter Open

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Palabras clave
autism spectrum disorder, comorbidity, pharmacotherapy, sympathetic nervous system, electrodermal activity