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.
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.
- Content Type Journal Article
- Category Original Contribution
- Pages 1-9
- DOI 10.1007/s00787-012-0318-1
- Authors
- Margo Schrieken, Karakter Child and Adolescent Psychiatry University Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
- Janne Visser, Karakter Child and Adolescent Psychiatry University Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
- Iris Oosterling, Karakter Child and Adolescent Psychiatry University Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
- Daphne van Steijn, Karakter Child and Adolescent Psychiatry University Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
- Daniƫlle Bons, Karakter Child and Adolescent Psychiatry University Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
- Jos Draaisma, Department of Pediatrics, Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Centre, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
- Rutger-Jan van der Gaag, Karakter Child and Adolescent Psychiatry University Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
- Jan Buitelaar, Karakter Child and Adolescent Psychiatry University Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
- Rogier Donders, Department of Epidemiology, Biostatistics and HTA, Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Centre, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
- Nanda Rommelse, Karakter Child and Adolescent Psychiatry University Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
- Journal European Child & Adolescent Psychiatry
- Online ISSN 1435-165X
- Print ISSN 1018-8827