CLINICAL STUDY OF ANTI-ANDROGEN & ANTI-HEAVY METAL THERAPY

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> Neuro Endocrinol Lett. 2006 Dec 25;27(6) [Epub ahead of print]

>

> A clinical trial of combined anti-androgen and anti-heavy metal

> therapy in autistic disorders.

>

> Geier DA, Geier MR. Vice-President, The Institute for Chronic

> Illnesses, Inc. (Silver Spring, MD 20905), USA. mgeier@...

>

> BACKGROUND: A medical hypothesis has suggested that some autism

> spectrum disorders (ASDs) may result from interactions between the

> methionine cycle-transsulfurat ion and androgen pathways following

> exposure to mercury. METHODS: The IRB of the Institute for Chronic

> Illnesses approved the present study. A novel treatment was

utilized

> combining LUPRON® (leuprolide acetate, TAP Pharmaceuticals,

Inc.)

> and CHEMET® (meso-2, 3-dimercaptosuccini c acid - DMSA, McNeil

> Consumer Products Company) on 11 consecutive children with ASDs.

> RESULTS: A significant (p<0.01) overall improvement from the 70-

79th

> percentile of severity (median baseline score=87) at baseline to

the

> 40-49th percentile of severity (median end of study period

score=63)

> at the end of the study was observed for patients treated for a

> median of approximately 4 months. Significant improvements in

> sociability, cognitive awareness, behavior, and clinical

> symptoms/behaviors of hyperandrogenemia were also observed.

> Significant decreases in blood androgens and increases in urinary

> heavy metal concentrations were observed. Minimal drug adverse

> effects were found. CONCLUSION: This study provides the first

> clinical evidence for the benefit that combined anti-androgen and

> anti-heavy metal therapy may have on some children with ASDs.

> Additional studies should examine androgen and heavy metal

mechanisms

> of action in ASDs, and future ASD treatment protocols should

consider

> androgens and heavy metals.

>

> PMID: 17187010

>