Comparison of Neurexin blood levels in children and adolescents diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder and healthy children, and its relationship with clinical severity of autism

Objective:The aim of this study is to examine the relationship between blood levels of neurexin and inflammation markers in children and adolescents diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and their comparison with healthy children, as well as to investigate the correlation between these parameters and the clinical severity of ASD.Materials and Methods:The study included 88 patients diagnosed with ASD and 78 healthy controls with no psychiatric or neurological disorders. Neuropsychiatric characteristics were assessed using the Childhood Autism Rating Scale (CARS) and the Social Communication Scale. Plasma neurexin levels were determined using the ELISA method.Results:In children with ASD, plasma NRXN2A and NRXN2B levels were statistically insignificant compared to typically developing children, regardless of gender, age, or BMI. NRXN2A and NRXN2B levels were found to be correlated within both groups. However, WBC and neutrophil levels were significantly higher in the ASD group compared to the typically developing group.Conclusion:The study concluded that NRXN2A and NRXN2B levels were not significantly different between ASD patients and typically developing children. However, inflammation markers such as WBC and neutrophil levels were elevated in the ASD group. These findings provide important insights into the complex relationships between the pathophysiology of ASD, synaptogenesis, its peripheral reflections, and inflammation.Keywords: ASD, Neurexin, Inflammation