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01-01-2013 | Original Contribution

Head circumference and height abnormalities in autism revisited: the role of pre- and perinatal risk factors

Authors: Margo Schrieken, Janne Visser, Iris Oosterling, Daphne van Steijn, Daniëlle Bons, Jos Draaisma, Rutger-Jan van der Gaag, Jan Buitelaar, Rogier Donders, Nanda Rommelse

Published in: European Child & Adolescent Psychiatry | Issue 1/2013

Abstract

Pre/perinatal risk factors and body growth abnormalities have been studied frequently as early risk markers in autism spectrum disorder (ASD), yet their interrelatedness in ASD has received very little research attention. This is surprising, given that pre/perinatal risk factors can have a substantial impact on growth trajectories in the first years of life. We aimed to determine which pre/perinatal factors were more prevalent in ASD children and if these factors differentially influenced body growth in ASD and control children. A total of 96 ASD and 163 control children matched for gender participated. Data of growth of head size and body length during the first 13 months of life were collected. Data on pre/perinatal risk factors were retrospectively collected through standardized questionnaires. Results indicated that after matching for SES, prematurity/low birth weight and being first born were more prevalent in the ASD versus the control group. In addition, with increasing age children with ASD tended to have a proportionally smaller head circumference compared to their height. However, the effect of prematurity/low birth weight on head growth corrected for height was significantly different in ASD and control children: premature/low birth weight control children showed a disproportionate larger head circumference in relation to height during their first year of life, whereas this effect was absent in premature/low birth weight ASD children. This may suggest that the etiology of abnormal growth is potentially different in ASD and control children: where abnormal growth in control children is related to suboptimal conditions in the uterus, abnormal growth in ASD may be more strongly related to the causal factors that also increase the risk for ASD. However, prospective studies measuring growth and ASD characteristics in both premature/low birth weight and a terme children are necessary to support this conclusion.

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Title: Head circumference and height abnormalities in autism revisited: the role of pre- and perinatal risk factors
Authors: Margo Schrieken
Janne Visser
Iris Oosterling
Daphne van Steijn
Daniëlle Bons
Jos Draaisma
Rutger-Jan van der Gaag
Jan Buitelaar
Rogier Donders
Nanda Rommelse
Publication date: 01-01-2013
Publisher: Springer-Verlag
Published in: European Child & Adolescent Psychiatry / Issue 1/2013
Print ISSN: 1018-8827
Electronic ISSN: 1435-165X
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00787-012-0318-1

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Springer Medicine

Head circumference and height abnormalities in autism revisited: the role of pre- and perinatal risk factors

Abstract

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Springer Medicine

Abstract

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