Preeclampsia, Placental Insufficiency, and Autism Spectrum Disorder or Developmental Delay

Children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) were twice as likely to have been exposed in utero to preeclampsia as controls with TD after adjustment for maternal educational level, parity, and prepregnancy obesity (adjusted odds ratio, 2.36; 95% CI, 1.18-4.68); risk increased with greater preeclampsia severity (test for trend, Pā€‰=ā€‰.02). Placental insufficiency appeared responsible for the increase in DD risk associated with severe preeclampsia (adjusted odds ratio, 5.49; 95% CI, 2.06-14.64).

Cheryl K.Walker, MD; Paula Krakowiak, PhD; Alice Baker, MPH; Robin L. Hansen, MD; Sally Ozonoff, PhD; Irva Hertz-Picciotto, PhD

JAMA Pediatr. 2015;169(2)