Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 20, 2026

Concurrent Collection of Fetal Murine Brain and Serum to Assess Effects of Maternal Diet on Nutrition and Neurodevelopment in Neurofibromatosis Type 1
05:44

Concurrent Collection of Fetal Murine Brain and Serum to Assess Effects of Maternal Diet on Nutrition and Neurodevelopment in Neurofibromatosis Type 1

Published on: May 17, 2024

Antenatal ultrasound and risk of autism spectrum disorders

Judith K Grether1, Sherian Xu Li, Cathleen K Yoshida

  • 1Environmental Health Investigations Branch, California Department of Public Health, Richmond, CA 94804, USA. Judith.grether@cdph.ca.gov

Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders
|September 4, 2009
PubMed

Insights

Antenatal ultrasound (U/S) exposure is unlikely to increase the risk of autism spectrum disorders (ASD). This study found no significant difference in U/S exposure between children with ASD and controls.

Area of Science:

  • Obstetrics and Gynecology
  • Developmental Pediatrics
  • Neuroscience

Background:

  • Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) are complex neurodevelopmental conditions.
  • The potential impact of prenatal exposures on ASD risk is an area of ongoing research.
  • Antenatal ultrasound (U/S) is a common diagnostic tool during pregnancy.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate whether antenatal ultrasound (U/S) exposure is a risk factor for autism spectrum disorders (ASD).
  • To compare U/S exposure levels between singleton children diagnosed with ASD and typically developing controls.

Main Methods:

  • A case-control study design was employed.
  • Participants included singleton children born between 1995-1999 and enrolled in Kaiser Permanente.
  • Data on antenatal U/S examinations were collected and compared between ASD cases (n=362) and controls (n=393).

Main Results:

  • Approximately 13% of both ASD cases and controls had no antenatal U/S exposure.
  • No statistically significant differences were observed in the number of U/S exposures between cases and controls, either throughout gestation or by trimester.
  • Adjusted analyses, controlling for covariates, showed similar U/S exposure patterns between the groups.

Conclusions:

  • Antenatal ultrasound (U/S) exposure does not appear to be a significant risk factor for autism spectrum disorders (ASD).
  • Further research is warranted to explore potential associations in specific ASD subgroups.

Related Concept Videos

Autism Spectrum Disorder01:19

Autism Spectrum Disorder

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental condition marked by persistent deficits in social communication and interaction alongside restrictive and repetitive behaviors or interests. ASD is sometimes accompanied by intellectual impairment.
These core symptoms manifest differently among individuals, ranging from mild to severe. The disorder's complexity extends beyond its clinical presentation, encompassing a diverse range of biological, cognitive, and sociocultural influences.
Teratogenicity01:07

Teratogenicity

The ability of a drug to produce structural deformations and functional abnormalities in the developing embryo or the fetus is called teratogenicity, and the drug producing this effect is known as a teratogen. Teratogenic effects include stillbirth, miscarriage, intrauterine growth restriction, and neurocognitive delay. A teratogen may affect the embryo at different stages of development, which is important in determining the type and extent of the damage. During blastocyst formation, the early...