6109
document
A randomized , double-blind , placebo-controlled trial of single-dose intravenous secretin as treatment for children with autism . OBJECTIVE To determine whether a single injection of intravenous secretin results in measurable improvements in socialization and/or communication skills in children with autism . STUDY DESIGN Sixty subjects with autism were randomly selected and assigned to either treatment or placebo group . Subjects in the treatment group received 2.0 clinical units of secretin per kilogram of body weight as a single intravenous dose . Subjects in the placebo group received normal saline solution . Neurodevelopmental and behavioral assessments were performed for all subjects before injection and at 3 and 6 weeks after injection . RESULTS Assessment of language skills and parents ' behavioral assessments revealed no significant differences between the treatment and placebo groups . Raters ' assessments of severity of autistic symptoms did not differ for the 2 groups at 6 weeks after injection . A marginally statistically significant improvement in autistic behaviors was seen in the treatment group at 3 weeks after injection ( P =.051 ) . CONCLUSIONS A single dose of intravenous secretin does not appear to have significant effects on either parents ' perception of autistic behaviors or language skills at 6 weeks after injection . Transient , marginally significant improvements in autistic behaviors may occur in some children .
6110
Intervention_Pharmacological
secretin
6111
Intervention_Pharmacological
secretin
6112
Intervention_Control
placebo
6113
Intervention_Pharmacological
2.0 clinical units of secretin per kilogram of body weight
6114
Intervention_Control
placebo
6115
Intervention_Pharmacological
normal saline solution
6116
Intervention_Pharmacological
secretin
6117
Outcome_Mental
Assessment of language skills and parents ' behavioral assessments
6118
Outcome_Other
Raters ' assessments of
6119
Outcome_Mental
severity of autistic symptoms
6120
Participant_Age
children
6121
Participant_Condition
autism
6122
Participant_Age
children
6123
Participant_Condition
autism .
6124
Participant_Sample-size
Sixty
6125
Participant_Condition
autism