A study recently published in the American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology found that children with fetal and neonatal alloimmune thrombocytopenia (FNAIT) may have an increased risk of developing autism later in childhood, including those without a history of intracranial hemorrhage (ICH).
“These findings highlight the need for early screening and ongoing careful monitoring of children affected by FNAIT, even without known ICH, who can no longer be considered ‘consequence-free,'” the authors wrote.
ICH, also known as a brain bleed, is a relatively common complication of FNAIT. Among children with FNAIT, ICH is associated with several long-term neurodevelopmental disorders. However, the risk in patients without a past ICH has not been studied extensively.
The authors administered a survey to members of NAITbabies, a patient organization that supports families affected by FNAIT. The study came after several members of NAITbabies suggested that children with FNAIT may be at a greater risk of developing autism.
Read more about FNAIT prognosis
The findings revealed that 7.5% of children in the study population received an autism diagnosis, and 20% screened as high risk for autism. Furthermore, of the participants with known ICH status, 42% of patients with a history of ICH screened as high risk for autism, compared to 15% of those without a past ICH.
The study also found that prenatal care may reduce the risk of developing autism. For example,16% of those receiving prenatal treatment screened as high risk for autism, while 21% of children who did not receive prenatal care were at an elevated risk of developing autism.
The increased prevalence of autism was primarily observed in patients aged four years and older. “This is unsurprising since the average age of diagnosis for autism spectrum disorder in the United States (where the largest number of NAITbabies members reside) is five years old,” the authors wrote.
Based on these results, the authors advocate for the development of an established set of guidelines for monitoring children with FNAIT long-term for autism, regardless of ICH status.
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