Tetrahydrobiopterin as a novel therapeutic intervention for autism

Abstract

Tetrahydrobiopterin (BH4) is an essential cofactor for several critical metabolic pathways that have been reported to be abnormal in autism spectrum disorder (ASD). In addition, the cerebrospinal fluid concentration of BH4 is reported to be depressed in children with ASD. Over the past 25 years, several clinical trials have suggested that treatment with BH4 improves ASD symptomatology in some individuals. Two ongoing clinical protocols may help further define the efficacy of BH4 treatment in children with ASD. First, children with ASD who had low concentrations of cerebrospinal fluid or urine pterins were treated in an open-label manner with 20 mg/kg per day of BH4. The majority of children (63%) responded positively to treatment, with minimal adverse events (AEs). Second, a double-blind placebo-controlled study examining the efficacy of 20 mg/kg per day of BH4 treatment in children with ASD is currently underway. Safety studies from the commercially available forms of BH4 document the low incidence of AEs, particularly serious AEs. Studies have also documented the ability of BH4 to cross the blood-brain barrier. Based on the importance of BH4 in neurodevelopmental metabolic pathways, the safety of BH4 treatment, and the evidence for a therapeutic benefit of BH4 treatment in children with ASD, we conclude that BH4 represents a novel therapy for ASD, one that may gain wider use after further clinical studies have established efficacy and treatment guidelines. © 2010 The American Society for Experimental NeuroTherapeutics, Inc.