Maternal Steroid Hormone Levels in Early Pregnancy and Autism in the Offspring: A Population-Based, Nested...

Area of Science:

• Neuroendocrinology
• Developmental Neuroscience
• Reproductive Biology

Background:

• Conflicting evidence exists regarding prenatal steroid hormones' role in autism etiology.
• Prenatal exposure to steroid hormones is a proposed factor in autism development.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the association between maternal serum levels of estradiol, testosterone, 17-hydroxyprogesterone (17-OHP), and cortisol during the first trimester and the odds of autism in offspring.
• To examine if these associations differ based on the presence or absence of co-occurring intellectual disability (ID).

Main Methods:

• Serum hormone levels (estradiol, testosterone, 17-OHP, cortisol) were measured in the first trimester using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry.
• Restricted cubic spline logistic regression models analyzed associations between maternal hormones and autism diagnosis (with/without ID) in offspring, adjusting for covariates.

Main Results:

• Significant nonlinear associations were found between maternal estradiol, 17-OHP, cortisol, and autism, varying with ID status.
• Lower maternal estradiol was linked to increased odds of autism with ID (OR=1.66).
• Higher maternal 17-OHP was associated with increased odds of autism without ID (OR=1.49), while higher cortisol was linked to lower odds of autism with ID (OR=0.55).

Conclusions:

• Maternal steroid hormone levels in early pregnancy may contribute to autism development.
• The relationship between prenatal steroid exposure and autism is complex and appears to be modulated by the presence of intellectual disability.