title: Hypothyroidism and autism spectrum disorders.
abstract: Five children (three boys and two girls) with autism or autistic-like conditions are described. Three of them had congenital hypothyroidism and two had mothers who had probably been hypothyroid in pregnancy. It is suggested that hypothyroid hormone deficiency in early development might cause central nervous system damage such that autistic symptoms are likely to ensue. An alternative explanation might be autoimmune factors linking hypothyroidism and autism.
authors.affiliation: Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Child Neuropsychiatry Centre, Göteborg, Sweden.
authors.forename: I C
authors.initials: IC
authors.lastname: Gillberg
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Gillberg
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kopp
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001321:Autistic Disorder / Q000209:etiology* / Q000235:genetics; D001327:Autoimmune Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000235:genetics; D002493:Central Nervous System Diseases / Q000150:complications; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D015897:Comorbidity; D003409:Congenital Hypothyroidism; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006932:Hyperbilirubinemia / Q000150:complications; D007037:Hypothyroidism / Q000150:complications / Q000235:genetics; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008607:Intellectual Disability / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D012307:Risk Factors