Urinary p-cresol is elevated in young French children with autism spectrum disorder: a replication study. (September 2014)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Gabriele, Stefano; Sacco, Roberto; Cerullo, Sonia; Neri, Cristina; Urbani, Andrea; Tripi, Gabriele; Malvy, Joëlle; Barthelemy, Catherine; Bonnet-Brihault, Frédérique; Persico, Antonio M.
• Is Part Of: Biomarkers. Volume 19:Number 6(2014)
• Page Start: 463
• Page End: 470
• Publication Date: 2014-09
• Subjects: Biochemical markers -- Periodicals; 610.28
• DOI: 10.3109/1354750X.2014.936911
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1354-750X

Abstract

<abstract> <title>Abstract</title> <p>The aromatic compound <italic>p</italic>-cresol (4-methylphenol) has been found elevated in the urines of Italian autistic children up to 8 years of age. The present study aims at replicating these initial findings in an ethnically distinct sample and at extending them by measuring also the three components of urinary <italic>p</italic>-cresol, namely <italic>p</italic>-cresylsulfate, <italic>p</italic>-cresylglucuronate and free <italic>p</italic>-cresol. Total urinary <italic>p</italic>-cresol, <italic>p</italic>-cresylsulfate and <italic>p</italic>-cresylglucuronate were significantly elevated in 33 French autism spectrum disorder (ASD) cases compared with 33 sex- and age-matched controls (<italic>p</italic> &lt; 0.05). This increase was limited to ASD children aged ≤8 years (<italic>p</italic> &lt; 0.01), and not older (<italic>p</italic> = 0.17). Urinary levels of <italic>p</italic>-cresol and <italic>p</italic>-cresylsulfate were associated with stereotypic, compulsive/repetitive behaviors (<italic>p</italic> &lt; 0.05), although not with overall autism severity. These results confirm the elevation of urinary <italic>p</italic>-cresol in a sizable set of small autistic children and spur interest into biomarker roles for <italic>p</italic>-cresol and <italic>p</italic>-cresylsulfate in autism.</p> </abstract>