Inflammatory cytokine alterations in autism spectrum disorder and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder: a systematic review and network meta-analysis

This network meta-analysis of 74 studies examined inflammatory markers across ASD, ADHD, and healthy controls, involving over 10,000 participants. Results identified distinct immune dysregulation patterns, with ASD showing elevated CRP, IL-6, IL-8, IL-1β and BDNF, while ADHD showed lower TNF-α, IL-2, and MCP-1 compared to controls.