Evidence based case report: Pyridoxine supplementation in children with pervasive developmental disorders

Pervasive developmental disorders (PDD) is defined as a neurodevelopmental disorder, c haract erized by social withdrawal, communication deficits, and repetitive behaviors. PDD include autistic disorder, Rett's syndrome, childhood disintegrative disorder, Asperger' s syndrome, and pervasive developmental disorder not otherwise specified or atypical autism.1 Update of epidemiological studies published between 1966 and 2006 show reports of estimated prevalence for autism has varied between 3 .31 and 86 children per 10,000, 2 and predominantly occurs in males than females (male:female ratio = 4: 1) .3 There is a hypothesis that behavioral problems in children with pervasive developmental disorder are highly associated with the neurotransmitter imbalances. Therefore, psychotropic medications (eg. atypical antipsychotics, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, and psychostimulants), which work on dopamine and serotonin receptors, are the FDAapproved medications for PDD.4 On the other hands, the use of novel, unconventional, and/or off- label treatments associated with the n eurotransmitters pathway for children with POD is increasing and more common