ELSTREE AERO-MEDICAL CENTER

www.elstreemedical.co.uk

Autism Therapy Update

Secrenase (tmp) - Secretin Nasal Spray (SNS)

This update contains the sections below.

USA Secretin Trial

Have you read the results of the recent (April 4^th 2001) Secretin Trial conducted by Repligen Corporation in the USA? It is very interesting reading.

The (first ever) Double Blind Placebo – Controlled randomised Trial shows clear evidence of the benefit of Secretin Therapy; studying the effect of Secretin on 136 children, all in the moderate to severe Autistic category.

Our Findings

Understandably parents’ initial hopes for results from Secretin were very high, carried along by spectacular results reported in the (mainly USA) press. The truth is that it often takes up to 8 or 10 Secretin injections to produce a clear, sustained positive clinical response. It is true to say however that some children do have an occasional spectacular result after only two or three injections; but this is rare. It was these children’s response that led to the euphoria surrounding early treatment programmes when Secretin was hailed as the ‘miracle’ cure for Autism.

I have however been using Secretin in nasal spray form, and surprisingly, Secrenase (tmp), our Secretin Nasal Spray (SNS) therapy works at least as well as Secretin injections (SI) therapy; and in many cases it is more effective.

I currently have 42 children being treated with Secrenase (tmp), who commenced with Secretin injection; and 8 children who have started with Secrenase (tmp) from the beginning. The first children were ‘switched’ to Secrenase (tmp) 7 months ago and are doing very well; of the 8 children started from the beginning, 4 have now completed 2 months Secrenase (tmp) and 4 are in the first months. The results to date are:

All children were assessed using the CARS method.

Advantages

Secrenase (tmp) therapy has some obvious advantages:

• It avoids the trauma of injection
• It is cheaper than the injection
• Less travelling is required (cheaper still!)
• The dose can be adjusted more easily

Secrenase (tmp) therapy is simple to administer: one daily one application of Secrenase (tmp) in one nostril. If compliance is a problem, then the dose can be administered at night, whilst the child is asleep – before he/she wakes you can be out of the door!

Conclusion

Initial reports from parents of the children who were started off with Secrenase (tmp) therapy indicate that results are slower to achieve in the first few weeks – but the children soon ‘catch up’.

If you would like more information or to order Secrenase (tmp) for your child, please contact either Sue Hawkins or Denise Smith at the office.

Looking forward to hearing from you.