ArticleWorld journal of clinical pediatrics2026
Role of soluble alpha-klotho as a novel biomarker for characterizing children with autism spectrum disorder in Kurdistan, Iraq.
Article in World journal of clinical pediatrics, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.
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Abstract
backgroundThe identification of bioindicators for the detection and monitoring of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) still remains a major challenge in clinical medicine. The protein klotho has been linked to various neurological disorders.
aimTo investigate the evaluation of soluble alpha-klotho (S-KLα) as a new indicator for the diagnosis and monitoring of patients with ASD. This study was conducted in the absence of any prior studies or research on the link between klotho and ASD, nor on how it affects the characteristics of those impacted. To address this gap, we considered this study.
methodsThe case-control study involved 256 individuals of both sexes, aged between 2 years and 15 years, divided into two groups: 156 children with ASD from autism centers in Dohuk and Zakho cities, Kurdistan Region/Iraq, and 100 healthy individuals serving as the control group. Serum S-KLα level was measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Additionally, levels of hemoglobin, iron, glucose, uric acid, creatinine, and vitamin D3 were estimated, with all measurements conducted in duplicate. Afterwards, statistical analyses were performed. An additional component was a questionnaire containing information about the participants.
resultsThe results showed a significant decrease in S-KLα levels in the sera of patients with ASD (97.5 ± 19.6) compared to the control group (133.7 ± 32.4). Additionally, the area under the curve (0.91) from the receiver operating characteristic analysis confirms the potential of using S-KLα as a marker for ASD. Furthermore, a notable decline in S-KLα was observed with increasing age, and higher levels of S-KLα were found in girls compared to boys, in both the control and patient groups (
conclusionThis is the first case-control study to confirm the strong potential of serum S-KLα as a predictive biomarker in autism risk profiling. The proposals outlined by the study suggest new directions and strategies for future research, linking klotho as a potential diagnostic marker for ASD and its complications, as well as its possible role as a therapeutic target.
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