title: Maternal C-Reactive Protein Concentration in Early Pregnancy and Child Autistic Traits in the General Population.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Exposure to elevated levels of inflammatory markers during pregnancy has been suggested as possible aetiologic factor in the occurrence of autism spectrum disorder (ASD). In this study, we investigated the prospective relation between maternal C-reactive protein (CRP) during early pregnancy and children's autistic traits in the general population.
  
  
  METHODS
  In a large population-based cohort in the Netherlands, we measured maternal CRP levels before 18 weeks of gestation (N = 4165). Parents reported on their children's autistic traits at age 6 years using the Social Responsiveness Scale, and the Pervasive Developmental Problem scale. Regression models were used to examine the relation between maternal CRP levels and autistic traits in children.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Compared with the reference group (CRP < 2.3 mg/L), elevated levels of CRP (>7.8 mg/L) in pregnant women were associated with higher Social Responsiveness Scale scores in children [β = 0.055, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.033, 0.078]; however, the effect was strongly attenuated after adjustment for several socioeconomic factors and in particular by maternal health-related factors including body mass index (fully adjusted model β = 0.018, 95% CI -0.005, 0.042). We found no relation between maternal CRP levels and pervasive developmental problem.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results suggest that the association between elevated levels of maternal CRP in pregnancy and autistic traits in children is confounded by maternal health-related and socioeconomic factors. Further studies are needed to explore whether other maternal inflammatory markers during pregnancy, as a response to maternal inflammation, are associated with the development of autistic traits in the offspring.
authors: The Generation R Study Group, Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.|Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry/Psychology, Erasmus University Medical Center-Sophia Children's Hospital, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
authors: Natasja
authors: N
authors: Koks
authors: The Generation R Study Group, Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.|Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry/Psychology, Erasmus University Medical Center-Sophia Children's Hospital, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.|Epidemiology Branch, Division of Intramural Population Health Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, MD.
authors: Akhgar
authors: A
authors: Ghassabian
authors: Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry/Psychology, Erasmus University Medical Center-Sophia Children's Hospital, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.|Yulius Academy, Yulius, Organization of Mental Health, Dordrecht, The Netherlands.
authors: Kirstin
authors: K
authors: Greaves-Lord
authors: Department of Epidemiology, Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
authors: Albert
authors: A
authors: Hofman
authors: The Generation R Study Group, Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.|Department of Epidemiology, Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.|Department of Pediatrics, Erasmus University Medical Center-Sophia Children's Hospital, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
authors: Vincent W V
authors: VW
authors: Jaddoe
authors: Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry/Psychology, Erasmus University Medical Center-Sophia Children's Hospital, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
authors: Frank C
authors: FC
authors: Verhulst
authors: Department of Epidemiology, Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.|Department of Psychiatry, Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.|Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry/Psychology, Erasmus University Medical Center-Sophia Children's Hospital, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
authors: Henning
authors: H
authors: Tiemeier
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001321:Autistic Disorder / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000378:metabolism*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008423:Maternal Age; D009426:Netherlands / Q000453:epidemiology; D011247:Pregnancy; D011261:Pregnancy Trimester, First; D011262:Pregnancy Trimester, Second; D011297:Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D011446:Prospective Studies
chemical_list: D002097:C-Reactive Protein
keywords: C-reactive protein; autistic traits; children; longitudinal; pregnancy