Objectives: We examined whether plasma concentrations of amyloid beta (Ab) as protein derivatives play a\ncentral role in the etiology of autistic features.\nDesign and Methods: Concentrations of human Ab (1-42), Ab (1-40), and Ab (40/42) in the plasma of 52 autistic\nchildren (aged 3-16 years) and 36 age-matched control subjects were determined by using the ELISA technique\nand were compared.\nResults: Compared to control subjects, autistic children exhibited significantly lower concentrations of both Ab (1-\n40) and Ab (1-42) and lower Ab (40/42) concentration ratio. Receiver operating characteristics curve (ROC) analysis\nshowed that these measurements of Ab peptides showed high specificity and sensitivity in distinguishing autistic\nchildren from control subjects.\nConclusions: Lower concentrations of Ab (1-42) and Ab (1-40) were attributed to loss of Ab equilibrium between\nthe brain and blood, an imbalance that may lead to failure to draw Ab from the brain and/or impairment of band\ng- secretase�s concentration or kinetics as enzymes involving in Ab production.
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