title: Brief report: a preliminary study of fetal head circumference growth in autism spectrum disorder.
abstract: Fetal head circumference (HC) growth was examined prospectively in children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). ASD participants (N = 14) were each matched with four control participants (N = 56) on a range of parameters known to influence fetal growth. HC was measured using ultrasonography at approximately 18 weeks gestation and again at birth using a paper tape-measure. Overall body size was indexed by fetal femur-length and birth length. There was no between-groups difference in head circumference at either time-point. While a small number of children with ASD had disproportionately large head circumference relative to body size at both time-points, the between-groups difference did not reach statistical significance in this small sample. These preliminary findings suggest that further investigation of fetal growth in ASD is warranted.
authors.affiliation: Telethon Institute for Child Health Research, Centre for Child Health Research, University of Western Australia, 100 Roberts Road, Subiaco, Perth, WA, 6008, Australia. awhitehouse@ichr.uwa.edu.au
authors.forename: Andrew J O
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Whitehouse
authors.forename: Martha
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hickey
authors.forename: Fiona J
authors.initials: FJ
authors.lastname: Stanley
authors.forename: John P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Newnham
authors.forename: Craig E
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: Pennell
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002508:Cephalometry; D002648:Child; D002659:Child Development Disorders, Pervasive / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D047109:Fetal Development; D006257:Head / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000254:growth & development*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010808:Physical Examination; D011247:Pregnancy; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014463:Ultrasonography