Evidence map›Paper›PMID 34238355›Full record

ArticleMolecular autism2021

Maternal steroid levels and the autistic traits of the mother and infant.

A Tsompanidis, E Aydin, E Padaigaitė, G Richards, C Allison, G Hackett, T Austin, R Holt, S Baron-Cohen

Open access · goldAbstract read
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Article in Molecular autism, 2021. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 13 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
13citing papers in PubMed
2.6field-weighted citation impact, top 10% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

13 citing papers in PubMed, 27 citations in OpenAlex.

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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

9 authors at 1 institution in 2 countries.

A TsompanidisAutism Research Centre, Department of Psychiatry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK. at768@medschl.cam.ac.uk.ORCID 0000-0002-7338-6536
E AydinAutism Research Centre, Department of Psychiatry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK.
E PadaigaitėAutism Research Centre, Department of Psychiatry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK.
G RichardsAutism Research Centre, Department of Psychiatry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK.
C AllisonAutism Research Centre, Department of Psychiatry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK.
G HackettThe Rosie Hospital, Cambridge University Hospitals Foundation Trust, Cambridge, UK.
T AustinThe Rosie Hospital, Cambridge University Hospitals Foundation Trust, Cambridge, UK.
R Holt *Autism Research Centre, Department of Psychiatry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK.
S Baron-Cohen *Autism Research Centre, Department of Psychiatry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK.
University of Cambridge · GB

Funding

Department of HealthWellcome Trust 214322\Z\18\Z
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundPrenatal sex steroids have been associated with autism in several clinical and epidemiological studies. It is unclear how this relates to the autistic traits of the mother and how early this can be detected during pregnancy and postnatal development.

methodsMaternal serum was collected from pregnant women (n = 122) before or during their first ultrasound appointment [mean = 12.7 (SD = 0.7) weeks]. Concentrations of the following were measured via immunoassays: testosterone, estradiol, dehydroepiandrosterone sulphate, progesterone; and sex hormone-binding globulin which was used to compute the free fractions of estradiol (FEI) and testosterone (FTI). Standardised human choriogonadotropin (hCG) and pregnancy-associated plasma protein A (PAPP-A) values were obtained from clinical records corresponding to the same serum samples. Mothers completed the Autism Spectrum Quotient (AQ) and for their infants, the Quantitative Checklist for Autism in Toddlers (Q-CHAT) when the infants were between 18 and 20 months old.

resultsFEI was positively associated with maternal autistic traits in univariate (n = 108, Pearson's r = 0.22, p = 0.019) and multiple regression models (semipartial r = 0.19, p = 0.048) controlling for maternal age and a diagnosis of PCOS. Maternal estradiol levels significantly interacted with fetal sex in predicting infant Q-CHAT scores, with a positive relationship in males but not females (n = 100, interaction term: semipartial r = 0.23, p = 0.036) after controlling for maternal AQ and other covariates. The opposite was found for standardised hCG values and Q-CHAT scores, with a positive association in females but not in males (n = 151, interaction term: r = -0.25, p = 0.005). LIMITATIONS: Sample size of this cohort was small, with potential ascertainment bias given elective recruitment. Clinical covariates were controlled in multiple regression models, but additional research is needed to confirm the statistically significant findings in larger cohorts.

conclusionMaternal steroid factors during pregnancy are associated with autistic traits in mothers and their infants.

Indexed as

Autistic DisorderMothersEstradiolFemaleHumansInfantMalePregnancySteroidsTestosteroneEstradiolSteroidsTestosteroneAutismAutistic TraitsEstradiolInteractionPregnancyPrenatalSex

Identifiers

PMID34238355
PMCPMC8268382
OpenAlexW3128992142

What OpenQuestion holds

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LicenceCC BY
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Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.