A double-blind, placebo-controlled crossover study investigating the effect of porcine secretin in children with autism

Objectives: A recent patient series reported the incidental findings of imp roved social and language skills in 3 children with autistic spectrum disor ders after the administration of secretin, a peptide hormone. However, a su bsequent study did not find evidence for a drug effect, Parents are seeking treatment with secretin despite the absence of empirical investigations de monstrating amelioration in autism symptomology. In order to more precisely measure the effects of secretin, this study investigated the effect of a s ingle intravenous dose of porcine secretin on 12 autistic children through a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover study. Children w ere assessed on objective language and on social, neuropsychological, and g astrointestinal measures to evaluate drug effects. The study was conducted over a 16-week trial. The results: indicated that significant differences w ere not observed on the majority of the dependent variables. Statistically significant differences were observed on measures of positive affect and ac tivity level following secretin infusion. In general, the autistic children did not demonstrate the improvements described in the initial retrospectiv e report.