title: Parental autoimmune diseases associated with autism spectrum disorders in offspring.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Autism spectrum disorders are often idiopathic. Studies have suggested associations between immune response and these disorders. We explored associations between parental autoimmune disorders and children's diagnosis of autism by linking Swedish registries.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data for each participant were linked across 3 Swedish registries. The study includes 1227 cases and 25 matched controls for each case (30,693 controls with parental linkage). Parental diagnoses comprised 19 autoimmune disorders. We estimated odds ratios (ORs) using multivariable conditional logistic regression.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Parental autoimmune disorder was weakly associated with autism spectrum disorders in offspring (maternal OR = 1.6 [95% confidence interval = 1.1-2.2]; paternal OR = 1.4 [1.0-2.0]). Several maternal autoimmune diseases were correlated with autism. For both parents, rheumatic fever was associated with autism spectrum disorders.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These data support previously reported associations between parental autoimmune disorders and autism spectrum disorders. Parental autoimmune disorders may represent a critical pathway that warrants more detailed investigation.
authors.affiliation: Department of aEpidemiology, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599-7435, USA. akeil@unc.edu
authors.forename: Alexander
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Keil
authors.forename: Julie L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Daniels
authors.forename: Ulla
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Forssen
authors.forename: Christina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Hultman
authors.forename: Sven
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Cnattingius
authors.forename: Karin C
authors.initials: KC
authors.lastname: Söderberg
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Feychting
authors.forename: Par
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Sparen
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001321:Autistic Disorder / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology* / Q000235:genetics; D001327:Autoimmune Diseases / Q000150:complications* / Q000235:genetics; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012042:Registries; D013548:Sweden / Q000453:epidemiology
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