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Association of Autism with Maternal Infections, Perinatal and Other Risk Factors: A Case-Control Study

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An Author Correction to this article was published on 15 February 2018

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Abstract

This case-control study explores the association between pregnancy/birth complications and other factors with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) in Lebanese subjects aged 2–18 years. Researchers interviewed 136 ASD cases from the American University of Beirut Medical Center Special Kids Clinic, and 178 controls selected by systematic digit dialing in the Greater-Beirut area. Male gender (Adjusted Odds Ratio [95% CI]: 3.9 [2.2–7.0]); postpartum feeding difficulties (2.5 [1.2–5.4]); maternal infections/complications during pregnancy (2.9 [1.5–5.5], 2.1 [1.1–3.9]); consanguinity (2.5 [1.0–6.0]); family history of psychiatric disorders (2.2 [1.1–4.4]) were risk factors for ASD. Being born first/second (0.52 [0.28–0.95]) and maternal psychological support during pregnancy (0.49 [0.27–0.89]) were negatively associated with ASD. Identifying ASD correlates is crucial for instigating timely screening and subsequent early intervention.

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Change history

  • 15 February 2018

    The original version of this article unfortunately contained a mistake. The family name of Hadi Abou El Hassan was incorrect. The correct name is Hadi Abou-El-Hassan.

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Acknowledgments

The authors would like to acknowledge the efforts of Mr. Chris Kaspar for his assistance in data collection. This study was funded by OpenMinds (private foundation/NGO).

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Author notes

  1. Dikran Richard Guisso, Fadi S. Saadeh, and Dahlia Saab have comtributed equllly to this work.

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Faculty of Medicine, American University of Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon

    Dikran Richard Guisso, Fadi S. Saadeh, Joud El Deek, Sarah Chamseddine, Hadi Abou El Hassan & Ghidaa Majari

  2. Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, American University of Beirut, Riad El Solh, P. O. Box 11-0236, Beirut, 1107 2020, Lebanon

    Dahlia Saab & Rose-Mary Boustany

  3. Department of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, American University of Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon

    Rose-Mary Boustany

Authors
  1. Dikran Richard Guisso
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  2. Fadi S. Saadeh
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  3. Dahlia Saab
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  4. Joud El Deek
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Contributions

DRG conceived of the study, participated in its design, data collection and interpretation, performed statistical analysis and drafted the manuscript; FSS conceived of the study, participated in its design, data collection and interpretation and drafted the manuscript; DS conceived of the study, participated in its design and coordination, performed statistical analysis and data interpretation and drafted the manuscript; JED, SC, HAEH and GM conceived of the study, participated in its design, data collection and interpretation, and assisted in drafting the manuscript; RMB conceived of the study, participated in its design and coordination, interpreted the data and drafted the manuscript. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Rose-Mary Boustany.

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The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

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All procedures performed in studies involving human participants were in accordance with the ethical standards of the institutional and/or national research committee and with the 1964 Helsinki declaration and its later amendments or comparable ethical standards.

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Informed consent was obtained from all individual participants included in the study.

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Guisso, D.R., Saadeh, F.S., Saab, D. et al. Association of Autism with Maternal Infections, Perinatal and Other Risk Factors: A Case-Control Study. J Autism Dev Disord 48, 2010–2021 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-017-3449-x

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