Biomarkers for Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) - a Meta-Analysis
In the past we discussed immune dysfunction in Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) and Stem cells (SCT) as a potential treatment with this biomedical issue.
At present, we at Cell- El Ltd. are focusing our research on biomarkers in the blood, stool, and urine of children with ASD. Biomarkers are objective markers which can indicate what is unique in the biology of each person or group of people. They enable researchers to better understand pathology and to develop more personalized treatments. There are many types of biomarkers and ways to monitor them. Researchers around the world have been attempting to use biomarkers as a basis to create an objective tool to diagnose ASD. Take our survey and let us know if you are interested in this future tool!
In the following paper, Cell El researchers reviewed and compared the reported accuracy and sensitivity of the various modalities used to diagnose.
Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) in efforts to help focus further biomarker research on the most promising methods for early diagnosis. It is envisioned that if we have an objective tool to diagnose ASD, this tool will also have the potential to help guide treatment.
Methods
“Methods: The Medline scientific literature database was searched to identify publications assessing potential clinical ASD biomarkers. Reports were categorized by the modality used to assess the putative markers, including protein, genetic, metabolic, or objective imaging methods. The reported sensitivity, specificity, area under the curve, and overall agreement were summarized and analyzed to determine weighted averages for each diagnostic modality. Heterogeneity was measured using the I 2 test.
Results: Of the 71 papers included in this analysis, each belonging to one of five modalities, protein-based followed by metabolite-based markers provided the highest diagnostic accuracy, each with a pooled overall agreement of 83.3% and respective weighted area under the curve (AUC) of 89.5% and 88.3%. Sensitivity provided by protein markers was highest (85.5%), while metabolic (85.9%) and protein markers (84.7%) had the highest specificity. Other modalities showed degrees of sensitivity, specificity, and overall agreements in the range of 73%–80%.
Conclusions: Each modality provided for diagnostic accuracy and specificity similar or slightly higher than those reported for the gold-standard Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule (ADOS) instrument. Further studies are required to identify the most predictive markers within each modality and to evaluate biological pathways or clustering with possible etiological relevance. Analyses will also be necessary to determine the potential of these novel biomarkers in diagnosing pediatric patients, thereby enabling early intervention.”
Publication: Rambam Maimonides Medical Journal, October 2019
Authors: Ashley Ansel, Yehudit Posen, Ronald Ellis, Lisa Deutsch, Philip D. Zisman, and Benjamin Gesundheit
Click here for the full article.
Help Us Help You
Better diagnostics for ASD based on laboratory-measured objective biomarkers can possibly enable researchers and clinicians to provide more precise and personalized treatment. You too can make a difference in the lives of children with ASD and their families by joining the Cell-El study. Cell-El is recruiting for two of our study cohorts. We are recruiting mothers, and their infants aged 10-19 months who have not been diagnosed with ASD but who have a sibling diagnosed with ASD. Cell-El is also recruiting children diagnosed with ASD between the ages of 2-18 years old whose parents are planning to take them privately to a clinic offering Stem Cell treatment for ASD.
Please contact Leah at [email protected] or fill out the form to find out about eligibility to participate in our diagnostic study and please help spread the word about the Cell-El study. Sharing our study will enable our important biomarker diagnostic tool to be integrated into autism treatment as quickly as possible.