Anti-Ganglioside, Anti-Glutamate, and Anti-Gad Antibody Levels in Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder

Objective: The etiology of Attention-Deficit Hyperactivite Disorder (ADHD) is still unclear. In the present study, we aimed to demonstrate the relationship among anti-ganglioside antibodies, anti-glutamate receptor antibodies, and anti-glutamic acit decarboksilaz (anti-GAD) antibodies, which are believed to be involved in the etiology of ADHD. Materials and Methods: The study included 36 children who were diagnosed with ADHD according to DSM IV diagnostic criteria and 21 healthy children as the control group. In all subjects, anti-ganglioside antibodies, anti-glutamate receptor antibodies, and anti-GAD antibodies were studied in the Microbiology Laboratory of Erciyes University, Medical School. Results: The mean age was 9.34 years in the ADHD group, which consisted of 5 girls and 31 boys. The mean age was 7.8 years in the control group, which consisted of 8 girls and 13 boys. No significant differences were observed in the levels of anti-ganglioside antibodies, anti-glutamate receptor antibodies, and anti-GAD antibodies between the ADHD and control groups. Conclusion: Although the etiology is unknown in ADHD, it is believed that autoimmune factors may be involved in the etiopathogenesis according to currently available information. However, there is a need for further studies with larger sample size to clarify the linkage between ADHD and anti-neuronal antibody levels.