Structural differences exist in the brains of autistic individuals. To date only a few studies have explored the relationship between fetal brain growth and later infant autistic traits, and some have used fetal head circumference (HC) as a proxy for brain development. These findings have been inconsistent. Here we investigate whether fetal subregional brain measurements correlate with autistic traits in toddlers. A total of 219 singleton pregnancies (104 males and 115 females) were recruited at the Rosie Hospital, Cambridge, UK. 2D ultrasound was performed at 12-, 20- and between 26 and 30 weeks of pregnancy, measuring head circumference (HC), ventricular atrium (VA) and transcerebellar diameter (TCD). A total of 179 infants were followed up at 18–20 months of age and completed the quantitative checklist for autism in toddlers (Q-CHAT) to measure autistic traits. Q-CHAT scores at 18–20 months of age were positively associated with TCD size at 20 weeks and with HC at 28 weeks, in univariate analyses, and in multiple regression models which controlled for sex, maternal age and birth weight. Due to the nature and location of the study, ascertainment bias could also have contributed to the recruitment of volunteer mothers with a higher than typical range of autistic traits and/or with a significant interest in the neurodevelopment of their children. Prenatal brain growth is associated with toddler autistic traits and this can be ascertained via ultrasound starting at 20 weeks gestation.

中文翻译：

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胎儿大脑发育和婴儿自闭症特征

自闭症患者的大脑存在结构差异。迄今为止，只有少数研究探讨了胎儿大脑生长与后来的婴儿自闭症特征之间的关系，有些研究使用胎儿头围（HC）作为大脑发育的指标。这些发现并不一致。在这里，我们研究胎儿大脑分区测量是否与幼儿的自闭症特征相关。英国剑桥 Rosie 医院总共招募了 219 名单胎孕妇（104 名男性和 115 名女性）。在怀孕 12 周、20 周以及 26 周和 30 周之间进行二维超声检查，测量头围 (HC)、心室 (VA) 和小脑直径 (TCD)。共有 179 名 18-20 个月大的婴儿接受了随访，并完成了幼儿自闭症定量检查表 (Q-CHAT)，以衡量自闭症特征。在单变量分析以及控制性别、母亲年龄和出生体重的多元回归模型中，18-20月龄时的 Q-CHAT 评分与 20 周时的 TCD 大小和 28 周时的 HC 呈正相关。由于研究的性质和地点，确定偏差也可能导致招募具有高于典型范围的自闭症特征和/或对孩子的神经发育有浓厚兴趣的志愿者母亲。产前大脑生长与幼儿自闭症特征相关，这可以通过怀孕 20 周开始的超声波来确定。