Serum Prolactin level in Thai Children and Adolescents with Autistic Spectrum Disorder on Long Term Risperidone Treatments

Abstract

Autistic spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder of early childhood characterized by communication abnormalities, social impairment and stereotyped behaviors. The US Food and Drug Administration (US FDA) approved the use of risperidone in children and adolescents who have symptoms of irritability associated with autism. Although risperidone can be effective in core symptom reduction in youths with psychiatric disorders, it is also associated with adverse effects, especially hyperprolactinemia. The objective of this study was to examine the relationship between serum prolactin level with gender and age among children and adolescents with autistic spectrum disorder (ASD), who were treated with risperidone. Participants included 210 ASD patients (183 males and 27 females) from the Yuwaprasart Waithayopathum Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Hospital, Samut Prakan. Serum prolactin levels were measured by chemiluminescence immunoassay. Serum prolactin levels were significantly higher in males than in females (17.8 vs. 15.7 ng/ml, P=0.021). Also, the prolactin concentrations were found to be significantly higher than the reference range among males (P=0.022). Children and adolescents with ASD within the age of 16-20 years had significantly higher concentration of prolactin (27.9 ng/ml) than in children aged 7-9 (16.7 ng/ml, P=0.018), 10-12 (14.2 ng/ml, P=0.012), and 13-15 years (17.7 ng/ml, P=0.021). The present study suggests that gender and age have a significant impact on prolactin concentrations in children and adolescents with autism undergoing risperidone treatment.