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Antenatal Ultrasound and Risk of Autism Spectrum Disorders

Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

We evaluated antenatal ultrasound (U/S) exposure as a risk factor for autism spectrum disorders (ASD), comparing affected singleton children and control children born 1995–1999 and enrolled in the Kaiser Permanente health care system. Among children with ASD (n = 362) and controls (n = 393), 13% had no antenatal exposure to U/S examinations; case–control differences in number of exposures during the entire gestation or by trimester were small and not statistically significant. In analyses adjusted for covariates, cases were generally similar to controls with regard to the number of U/S scans throughout gestation and during each trimester. This study indicates that antenatal U/S is unlikely to increase the risk of ASD, although studies examining ASD subgroups remain to be conducted.

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Acknowledgments

We wish to express appreciation to Kaht Dorward, MD, and Linda Copeland, MD, practicing physicians within Kaiser Permanente of Northern California, for providing clinical consultation and to Meredith Anderson, MA, and Daniel Smith, DrPH, colleagues within California Department of Public Health, for statistical consultation and for careful review of the manuscript. Any errors in calculation or interpretation of data are those of the authors. This study was funded by grants from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, (U10/CCU920392), the Kaiser Foundation Research Institute, and Autism Speaks, and by the California Department of Public Health.

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Correspondence to Judith K. Grether.

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Grether, J.K., Li, S.X., Yoshida, C.K. et al. Antenatal Ultrasound and Risk of Autism Spectrum Disorders. J Autism Dev Disord 40, 238–245 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-009-0859-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-009-0859-4

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