Background and aims The androgen theory of autism suggests that autism spectrum conditions are in part due to elevated levels of foetal testosterone. Prenatal testosterone has important effects on brain organisation and future behaviour, and this is positively correlated with a number of autistic traits. In these cases, these levels of testosterone remain elevated from post-natal period until adolescence.

Our research tries to bring new elements in etiological theories of Asperger Disorder, which according to ICD-10 is included as a diagnose entity in autism spectrum disorders. We intend to identify the existence of differences in terms of serum testosterone levels between patients with Asperger Syndrome and typical children without psychiatric disorders.

Methods The first sample, considered experimental group, consists of 12 male patients (aged between 11 and 17 years) diagnosed with Asperger Syndrome. In this group it was used simple randomization.

The second sample, considered the control group, consists of 12 male children (aged between 11 and 17 years) without any psychiatric disorder. In this group it was used stratifies randomization.

All children are dosed serum testosterone levels in blood samples.

The method of statistical tests included „t’ Test (Student), „F’ Test (Fisher), and „c ² ’ Test

Results Average testosterone levels in the group with Asperger Syndrome is 14.68 pg/mL while in the control group the resulting average testosterone level is 10.22 pg/mL.

The level of testosterone in the obtained average results, occurs with a frequency of 5 subjects in control group, while testosterone levels above the obtained average results, occur with a frequency of 7 subjects in experimental group. The frequency of testosterone levels below the average results is higher in the control group compared to the frequency of testosterone levels in the experimental group.

Conclusions Although testosterone levels in the two groups were located in the normal range, mean increased values in the experimental group can be considered of a practical importance in clinical experience, and these results tend to have statistical significance.

It is still of great concern the hipothesys that tries to explain the excessive androgen levels in many aspects of human behaviour, in addition to serum testosterone that can contribute to aggravating factors of autism symptoms.