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document
Repeated doses of porcine secretin in the treatment of autism : a randomized , placebo-controlled trial . BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES Anecdotal reports on the efficacy of secretin in autism raised great hopes for the treatment of children with this disorder . Initial single-dose , randomized , controlled trials failed to demonstrate any therapeutic effects of secretin . The present study is the first to test the outcome of repeated doses and to examine whether there is a subgroup of children who are more likely to achieve positive effects . METHOD Sixty-four children with autism ( ages 2-7 years ; 55 boys and 9 girls ) with a range of intelligence quotient and verbal ability were randomly assigned , in a double-blind manner , to secretin or placebo groups . Children received 2 doses of placebo or porcine secretin , 6 weeks apart . Assessments were performed at baseline and 3 weeks after each injection using several outcome measures . RESULTS There were no group differences on formal measures of language , cognition , or autistic symptomatology . Subgroupings based on cognitive level , the presence or absence of diarrhea , or a history of regression failed to show any significant therapeutic effects of secretin . CONCLUSION No evidence is provided for the efficacy of repeated doses of porcine secretin in the treatment of children with autism . The possible relationship between relief of biological symptoms and enhanced skill performance is discussed .
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Intervention_Pharmacological
porcine secretin
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Intervention_Pharmacological
secretin
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Intervention_Pharmacological
secretin
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Intervention_Pharmacological
secretin
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Intervention_Control
placebo
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Intervention_Control
placebo
6084
Intervention_Pharmacological
porcine secretin
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Intervention_Pharmacological
secretin
6086
Intervention_Physical
.
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Intervention_Pharmacological
porcine secretin
6088
Outcome_Mental
formal measures of language , cognition , or autistic symptomatology
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Outcome_Mental
cognitive level
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Outcome_Physical
presence or absence of diarrhea
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Outcome_Mental
regression
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Outcome_Other
efficacy
6093
Outcome_Physical
biological symptoms
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Outcome_Mental
skill performance
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Participant_Condition
autism
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Participant_Age
children
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Participant_Sample-size
Sixty-four
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Participant_Sample-size
55
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Participant_Sex
boys
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Participant_Sample-size
9
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Participant_Sex
girls