J Assoc Acad Minor Phys 1998;9(1):9-15

Improved social and language skills after secretin administration in
patients with autistic spectrum disorders.

Horvath K, Stefanatos G, Sokolski KN, Wachtel R, Nabors L, Tildon JT

Department of Pediatrics, University of Maryland School of Medicine,
Maryland, USA.

We report three children with autistic spectrum disorders who underwent
upper gastrointestinal endoscopy and intravenous
administration of secretin to stimulate pancreaticobiliary secretion.
All three had an increased pancreaticobiliary secretory
response when compared with nonautistic patients (7.5 to 10 mL/min
versus 1 to 2 mL/min). Within 5 weeks of the secretin
infusion, a significant amelioration of the children's gastrointestinal
symptoms was observed, as was a dramatic improvement
in their behavior, manifested by improved eye contact, alertness, and
expansion of expressive language. These clinical
observations suggest an association between gastrointestinal and brain
function in patients with autistic behavior.

PMID: 9585670, UI: 98246761