Microarray analysis of blood samples from autism patients

Gene expression comparison between blood samples from adolescents and adults with autistic spectrum disorders (ASD, n=21) and matched healthy control subjects (n=21).  ASD patients included 17 males and 4 females with a mean age of 26.7. Age- and sex-matched healthy volunteers were recruited with a mean age of 27.

Earlier clinical diagnoses of ASD were confirmed according to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV-TR, American Psychiatric Association, 2000) based on clinical interviews with subjects and/or parents using semi-structured interviews that were validated for Japanese pervasive developmental disorders (PDD). Intellectual functions of the ASD subjects were evaluated using Japanese versions of WAIS-III; all ASD subjects exhibited normal IQ.