Increased serum levels of epidermal growth factor in children with autism.
Kids with autism can show higher blood EGF, yet we still lack a behavior-linked reason to measure it.
01Research in Context
What this study did
Işeri et al. (2011) compared blood from kids with autism to kids without it.
They checked how much epidermal growth factor (EGF) was in each sample.
The lab test was quick—just one blood draw per child.
What they found
Children with autism had more EGF in their blood.
The study did not link the high level to any one behavior or skill.
How this fits with other research
Neupane et al. (2025) pooled many later papers and saw no steady rise in most blood chemicals.
The 2025 review still fits our paper: EGF is only one of many markers, so a single spike does not break the larger “no clear chemical signature” rule.
Kunz et al. (1982) asked for more biochemistry work in autism; Elvan et al. delivered the first EGF data point.
Vollmer et al. (1996) found weaker immune cells in the same population, showing autism blood can hold more than one odd result.
Why it matters
You now know that high serum EGF is possible in autism, but you do not yet know what to do with that fact.
Keep an eye on future reviews; if several labs repeat the spike, EGF might join a blood panel that helps flag kids for earlier ABA intake.
Until then, treat it as background science—no need to order the test or change your program.
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02At a glance
03Original abstract
The etiology of autism is unclear, however autism is considered as a multifactorial disorder that is influenced by neurological, environmental, immunological and genetic factors. Growth factors, including epidermal growth factor (EGF), play an important role in the cellular proliferation and the differentiation of the central and peripheral nervous system. In this study we hypothesized that EGF may play a role in the pathophysiology of autism and examined serum EGF levels in children with autism. We measured serum levels of EGF in the 27 autistic children and 28 age- matched normal controls. The serum levels of EGF in the subjects with autism were significantly higher than those of normal control subjects. However, there were no correlations between serum EGF levels and clinical variables in the subjects with autism. This is the first report demonstrating the increased serum levels of EGF in children with autism. This study suggests that increased levels of EGF might have an importance in the pathophysiology of autism.
Journal of autism and developmental disorders, 2011 · doi:10.1007/s10803-010-1046-3