Cerebral Folate deficiency study--

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‘Cerebral folate deficiency (CFD) syndrome is a neurodevelopmental disorder

typically causedby folate receptor autoantibodies (FRAs) that interfere with

folate transport across the blood–brain barrier. Autism spectrum disorders

(ASDs) and improvements in ASD symptoms withleucovorin (folinic acid) treatment

have been reported in some children with CFD. In childrenwith ASD, the

prevalence of FRAs and the response to leucovorin in FRA-positive children

hasnot been systematically investigated. In this study, serum FRA concentrations

were measuredin 93 children with ASD and a high prevalence (75.3%) of FRAs was

found. In 16 children, theconcentration of blocking FRA significantly correlated

with cerebrospinal fluid 5-methyltetrahydrofolateconcentrations, which were

below the normative mean in every case. Childrenwith FRAs were treated with oral

leucovorin calcium (2mgkg_1 per day; maximum 50mg perday). Treatment response

was measured and compared with a wait-list control group.Compared with controls,

significantly higher improvement ratings were observed in treatedchildren over a

mean period of 4 months in verbal communication, receptive and

expressivelanguage, attention and stereotypical behavior. Approximately

one-third of treated childrendemonstrated moderate to much improvement. The

incidence of adverse effects was low. Thisstudy suggests that FRAs may be

important in ASD and that FRA-positive children with ASDmay benefit from

leucovorin calcium treatment. Given these results, empirical treatment

withleucovorin calcium may be a reasonable and non-invasive approach in

FRA-positive childrenwith ASD. Additional studies of folate receptor

autoimmunity and leucovorin calcium treatmentin children with ASD are

warranted.Molecular Psychiatry advance online publication, 10 January 2012;

doi:10.1038/mp.2011.175’

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-----Original Message-----

From: isaguzmandiaz2@...

Date: Thu, 12 Jan 2012 13:06:45

Reply-To: isaguzmandiaz2@...

Enviado desde mi oficina móvil BlackBerry® de Telcel