Fréderique Bonnet-Brilhault1,2, Toky A Rajerison3, Christian Paillet4, Marie Guimard-Brunault2, Agathe Saby2, Laura Ponson1,2, Gabriele Tripi2,5, Joëlle Malvy1,2, Sylvie Roux1. 1. UMR 1253, iBrain, Université de Tours, Inserm, Tours, France. 2. Centre Universitaire de Pédopsychiatrie, CHRU de Tours, Tours, France. 3. Centre Hospitalier Charles Perrens, Pôle Universitaire de Psychiatrie de l'Enfant et de l'Adolescent, Bordeaux, France. 4. Unité de Médecine Fœtale, Centre Olympe de Gouge, CHRU de Tours, Tours, France. 5. Dipartement PROSAMI, Paolo Giaccone Hospital, University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy.
Abstract
This retrospective study aimed to specify the critical period for atypical brain development in individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) using prenatal and postnatal head growth parameters. The sample consisted of 80 Caucasian, unrelated, idiopathic patients with ASD born after 1995. Fetal ultrasound parameters (head circumference [HC], abdominal circumference, and femur length) were obtained during the second and third trimesters of gestation. HC at birth and postnatal parameters at 12 and 24 months of age were also collected. Head overgrowth, assessed by HC, was highlighted during the second (20-26 weeks of amenorrhea) and third (28-36 weeks of amenorrhea) trimesters. Normal growth of body fetal parameters indicated that head overgrowth was not because of overall body overgrowth. Moreover, postnatal results replicated previously and reported head overgrowth. A critical time window for atypical brain development in autism is hypothesized to begin from the 22nd week of amenorrhea. This period is critical for cortical lamination and glial activation. A pathophysiological cascade is suggested with interactions between candidate genes and environmental factors. Autism Research 2018, 11: 1635-1642.
This retrospective study aimed to specify the critical period for atypical brain development in individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) using prenatal and postnatal head growth parameters. The sample consisted of 80 Caucasian, unrelated, idiopathic patients with ASD born after 1995. Fetal ultrasound parameters (head circumference [HC], abdominal circumference, and femur length) were obtained during the second and third trimesters of gestation. HC at birth and postnatal parameters at 12 and 24 months of age were also collected. Head overgrowth, assessed by HC, was highlighted during the second (20-26 weeks of amenorrhea) and third (28-36 weeks of amenorrhea) trimesters. Normal growth of body fetal parameters indicated that head overgrowth was not because of overall body overgrowth. Moreover, postnatal results replicated previously and reported head overgrowth. A critical time window for atypical brain development in autism is hypothesized to begin from the 22nd week of amenorrhea. This period is critical for cortical lamination and glial activation. A pathophysiological cascade is suggested with interactions between candidate genes and environmental factors. Autism Research 2018, 11: 1635-1642.
Authors: Pedro Andreo-Martínez; María Rubio-Aparicio; Julio Sánchez-Meca; Alejandro Veas; Agustín Ernesto Martínez-González Journal: J Autism Dev Disord Date: 2021-05-05