Akademik Veri Yönetim Sistemi
IFCC WORLDLAB DUBAI 2024, Dubai, Birleşik Arap Emirlikleri, 26 Mayıs 2024
Background-Aim
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is one of the most
common neurobehavioral disorders in childhood and adolescence.
Recent studies demonstrate that neuroinflammation may play a role in
immune dysregulation and the etiology of major psychiatric disorders.
This study aims to investigate the potential impact of serum TNF-related
weak inducer of apoptosis (TWEAK), neopterin, IFN-γ, TNF-α, and IL-6
levels on the etiology and clinical course of ADHD.
Methods
A total of 51 treatment-naive children with ADHD and 38 healthy
controls were included in the present study. All participants were inter-
viewed with Schedule for Affective Disorders and Schizophrenia for
School-Age Children (K-SADS-PL-DSM-5) by certified psychiatrists to
confirm ADHD diagnosis and exclude comorbid psychiatric disorders.
The severity of ADHD symptoms was assessed by 48-item Conners’ Par-
ent Rating Scale (CPRS). Venous blood samples were collected, and
serum neopterin, TWEAK, IFN-γ, TNF-α, and IL-6 levels were measured
using original commercial ELISA kits.
Results
51 patients with ADHD (34 male, 17 female; mean ± standard devi-
ation [S.D.] of age 12.15 ± 2.6 years) and 38 healthy controls (18 male,
20 female; age 12.74 ± 3.3 years) presented comparable age and gen-
der. Serum TWEAK and IFN-γ levels of the ADHD group were signifi-
cantly lower than the control group.TWEAK (median [IQR], 907
[613–1333] vs. 1295 [1052–1820] mg/L, p = 0.001) and IFN-γ (me-
dian [IQR], 58 [37–98] vs. 63 [55–96] ng/mL, p = 0.047). There was
no significant difference between the groups regarding neopterin,
TNF-α, CRP, and IL-6 levels (p > 0.05). Serum levels of TNF-α, CRP,
and IL-6 were negatively correlated with inattention symptoms. How-
ever, there were no significant correlations between serum TWEAK,
IFN-γ, and neopterin levels and ADHD symptom severity.
Conclusions
The present research explored whether immunological abnormalities
can be the underlying cause of ADHD in childhood. The findings sug-
gested that children with ADHD had lower serum TWEAK and IFN-γ
levels than controls. However, there were no significant correlations
between serum TWEAK and IFN-γ levels with ADHD symptom severity.
These findings point that serum TWEAK and IFN-γ levels may be related
to ADHD etiopathogenesis, regardless of ADHD symptom severity.