pdf: A novel blood-based biomarker for detection of autism spectrum disorders

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A novel blood-based biomarker for detection of autism spectrum

disorders

N Momeni et al.

Translational Psychiatry (2012) 2, e91; doi:10.1038/tp.2012.19

http://www.nature.com/tp/journal/v2/n3/full/tp201219a.html

Autism spectrum disorders (ASD) are classified as neurological

developmental disorders. Several studies have been carried out to find a

candidate biomarker linked to the development of these disorders, but up

to date no reliable biomarker is available. Mass spectrometry techniques

have been used for protein profiling of blood plasma of children with

such disorders in order to identify proteins/peptides that may be used

as biomarkers for detection of the disorders. Three differentially

expressed peptides with mass--charge (m/z) values of 2020±1, 1864±1 and

1978±1 Da in the heparin plasma of children with ASD that were

significantly changed as compared with the peptide pattern of the

non-ASD control group are reported here. This novel set of biomarkers

allows for a reliable blood-based diagnostic tool that may be used in

diagnosis and potentially, in prognosis of ASD.