Trial reportArchives of disease in childhood2003
Children with autistic spectrum disorders. I: comparison of placebo and single dose of human synthetic secretin.
Trial report in Archives of disease in childhood, 2003. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 14 papers, 3 of them syntheses that pooled it.
What it found
Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.
The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
14 citing papers in PubMed, 3 syntheses or guidelines pooled it, 52 citations in OpenAlex.
- Pharmacological intervention for irritability, aggression, and self-injury in autism spectrum disorder (ASD).The Cochrane database of systematic reviews · 2023Pooled it
- Intravenous secretin for autism spectrum disorders (ASD).The Cochrane database of systematic reviews · 2012Pooled it
- Pooled it
- A Randomised Controlled Trial of an Information Communication Technology Delivered Intervention for Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder Living in Regional Australia.Journal of autism and developmental disorders · 2019Trial
- Digestive enzyme supplementation for autism spectrum disorders: a double-blind randomized controlled trial.Journal of autism and developmental disorders · 2010Trial
- Children with autistic spectrum disorders. II: parents are unable to distinguish secretin from placebo under double-blind conditions.Archives of disease in childhood · 2003Trial
- Autism spectrum disorder and the role of nuclear hormone receptors: insights and therapeutic implications.Frontiers in neuroscience · 2025Review
- De-implementation of Low-Value Practices for Autism Spectrum Disorder.Clinical child and family psychology review · 2023Review
- Recent Developments in Treatment Outcome Measures for Young Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD).Seminars in pediatric neurology · 2020Review
- A Randomized, Placebo-controlled Trial of Digestive Enzymes in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders.Clinical psychopharmacology and neuroscience : the official scientific journal of the Korean College of Neuropsychopharmacology · 2015Article
- Emerging drugs for the treatment of symptoms associated with autism spectrum disorders.Expert opinion on emerging drugs · 2010Review
- The role of secretin in the cerebellum.Cerebellum (London, England) · 2006Review
- Short report: Autistic gastrointestinal and eating symptoms treated with secretin: a subtype of autism.Clinical practice and epidemiology in mental health : CP & EMH · 2005Article
- In children with autism, is intravenous secretin more effective than placebo in improving social skills, communication, behaviour or global functioning?: Part A: Evidence-based answer and summary.Paediatrics & child health · 2004Article
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
10 authors at 1 institution in 1 country.
Funding
Abstract
aimsTo examine the effect of a single dose of human synthetic secretin (HSS) on behaviour and communication in children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) using an objective measure of communication and social reciprocity and standardised rating scales.
methodsRandomised, crossover, double blind, and placebo controlled trial of a single intravenous dose of human synthetic secretin (HSS) 2 CU/kg. The 62 subjects (3-8 years) were assigned to group 1 (saline placebo/HSS) or group 2 (HSS/saline placebo). Diagnosis was confirmed by ADI-R (Autism Diagnostic Interview-Revised) algorithm. Severity of symptoms was rated using the CARS (Childhood Autism Rating Scale). Outcome measures included Communication and Symbolic Behavior Scale (CSBS), Ritvo Real-life Rating Scale, weekly Global Rating Scale (GBRS) by parents and teachers, and daily log of gastrointestinal symptoms. The communication subscale of the CSBS, specifying communication function, reciprocity, and social-affective signalling was videotaped and scored by a blinded, trained observer.
resultsSixty one children completed the study. After randomisation, there were no significant differences in gender, race, age, and parent and teacher GBRS and Ritvo Scale between the two groups. Compared with placebo, secretin treatment was not associated with significant improvement of CSBS standard scores from baseline to 2 or 4 weeks post-infusion. Five children showed clinical improvement in standard scores: two after HSS and three after placebo. There were no significant changes in gastrointestinal symptoms after HSS or saline placebo.
conclusionsA single dose of intravenous human secretin is not effective in changing behaviour and communication in children with ASD when compared to placebo.
Indexed as
Identifiers
What OpenQuestion holds
Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.