Prenatal sex steroids have been associated with autism in several clinical and epidemiological studies. It is unclear how this relates to the autistic traits of the mother and how early this can be detected during pregnancy and postnatal development. Maternal serum was collected from pregnant women (n = 122) before or during their first ultrasound appointment [mean = 12.7 (SD = 0.7) weeks]. Concentrations of the following were measured via immunoassays: testosterone, estradiol, dehydroepiandrosterone sulphate, progesterone; and sex hormone-binding globulin which was used to compute the free fractions of estradiol (FEI) and testosterone (FTI). Standardised human choriogonadotropin (hCG) and pregnancy-associated plasma protein A (PAPP-A) values were obtained from clinical records corresponding to the same serum samples. Mothers completed the Autism Spectrum Quotient (AQ) and for their infants, the Quantitative Checklist for Autism in Toddlers (Q-CHAT) when the infants were between 18 and 20 months old. FEI was positively associated with maternal autistic traits in univariate (n = 108, Pearson’s r = 0.22, p = 0.019) and multiple regression models (semipartial r = 0.19, p = 0.048) controlling for maternal age and a diagnosis of PCOS. Maternal estradiol levels significantly interacted with fetal sex in predicting infant Q-CHAT scores, with a positive relationship in males but not females (n = 100, interaction term: semipartial r = 0.23, p = 0.036) after controlling for maternal AQ and other covariates. The opposite was found for standardised hCG values and Q-CHAT scores, with a positive association in females but not in males (n = 151, interaction term: r = −0.25, p = 0.005). Sample size of this cohort was small, with potential ascertainment bias given elective recruitment. Clinical covariates were controlled in multiple regression models, but additional research is needed to confirm the statistically significant findings in larger cohorts. Maternal steroid factors during pregnancy are associated with autistic traits in mothers and their infants.

中文翻译：

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母体类固醇水平与母婴自闭症特征

在几项临床和流行病学研究中，产前性类固醇与自闭症有关。目前尚不清楚这与母亲的自闭症特征有何关系，以及在怀孕和产后发育过程中可以多早发现。在第一次超声预约之前或期间从孕妇 (n = 122) 收集母体血清 [平均 = 12.7 (SD = 0.7) 周]。通过免疫测定法测量以下物质的浓度：睾酮、雌二醇、硫酸脱氢表雄酮、孕酮；和性激素结合球蛋白，用于计算雌二醇 (FEI) 和睾酮 (FTI) 的游离分数。从对应于相同血清样本的临床记录中获得标准化的人绒毛膜促性腺激素 (hCG) 和妊娠相关血浆蛋白 A (PAPP-A) 值。当婴儿在 18 至 20 个月大时，母亲完成了自闭症谱商 (AQ) 和婴儿自闭症定量检查表 (Q-CHAT)。FEI 与单变量（n = 108，Pearson's r = 0.22，p = 0.019）和控制母亲年龄和 PCOS 诊断的多元回归模型（半部分 r = 0.19，p = 0.048）的母亲自闭症特征呈正相关。母体雌二醇水平在预测婴儿 Q-CHAT 分数时与胎儿性别显着相互作用，在控制母体 AQ 和其他协变量后，男性与女性呈正相关（n = 100，交互项：半部分 r = 0.23，p = 0.036） . 标准化的 hCG 值和 Q-CHAT 评分则相反，在女性中呈正相关，但在男性中没有（n = 151，交互项：r = -0.25，p = 0.005)。该队列的样本量很小，考虑到选择性招募，可能存在确定偏差。临床协变量在多元回归模型中得到控制，但需要更多的研究来确认更大队列中具有统计学意义的发现。怀孕期间的母亲类固醇因素与母亲及其婴儿的自闭症特征有关。