Thyroid hormone in autistic children

Thyroid hormone plays an important role in the pre- and postnatal development and function of the central nervous system. Disturbances in thyroid hormone regulation have been hypothesized in childhood autism. We evaluated blood indices of thyroid function, including serum thyroxine, triiodothyronine, and thyroid-stimulating hormone, in a large population of autistic children. No differences were found between autistic and normal children. This research was supported in part by MH-CRC grant MH30929, CCRC grant RR 00125, NICHD grant HD-03008, the William T. Grant Foundation, Mr. Leonard Berger, and The Solomon R. & Rebecca D. Baker Foundation, Inc. We thank Ms. Mary Ellen Kavanagh for her technical assistance.