We enrolled 43 children aged 2–8 years with a diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and 43 age- and sex-matched healthy controls. The aim was to evaluate routinely available laboratory parameters as accessible markers that could aid ASD diagnosis and treatment monitoring, thereby contributing to the elucidation of ASD etiopathogenesis. Serum ALT, AST, iron (Fe), unsaturated iron-binding capacity (UIBC), ferritin, folate, vitamin B12, TSH, free T4, vitamin D, uric acid, insulin, glucose, total cholesterol, HDL, LDL, triglycerides, C-reactive protein (CRP), and creatinine, as well as complete blood count (CBC) indices, were statistically compared between groups. Samples were analyzed on automated hormone, clinical chemistry, and hematology analyzers. Logistic regression was used to assess the association between platelet count and ASD status. No statistically significant between-group differences were observed for ALT, glucose, CRP, insulin, total cholesterol, HDL, LDL, triglycerides, creatinine, iron, UIBC, ferritin, folate, vitamin B12, TSH, free T4, RBC, hemoglobin, hematocrit, or MCV (all p > 0.05). WBC, platelet, uric acid, AST, and vitamin D levels were significantly higher in the ASD group than in controls (all p < 0.05). In logistic regression, higher platelet count was associated with increased odds of ASD (OR = 1.019 per unit increase in the measurement scale used), controlling for covariates. ASD is diagnosed based on DSM-5 criteria and supplementary scales. This study identifies objective, readily measurable blood parameters that may support ASD diagnosis and guide subsequent treatment; larger, longitudinal studies are warranted to confirm these associations.
Polat et al. (Mon,) studied this question.