ELEVATION OF SERUM C-REACTIVE PROTEIN AND S100 PROTEINS FOR SYSTEMIC INFLAMMATION IN AUTISTIC CHILDREN

Abstract

The pathogenesis of autism, a neurological disorder severely affecting young children, may involve inflammation and autoimmunity. In this report, the distribution of acute-phase C-reactive protein (CRP) and S100 proteins was examined in normal and autistic children.  Their serum levels were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Autistic children were found to have significantly higher than normal levels of CRP (p=0.005) and S100 proteins (p=0.03). The existence of elevated levels of CRP and S100 proteins in autistic children is an excellent sign of systemic inflammation that may contribute to the neuropathology of this brain disorder.