A routine prenatal ultrasound in the second trimester can identify early signs of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), a new study by Ben-Gurion University of the Negev and Soroka Medical Center has found.
Researchers from the Azrieli National Centre for Autism and Neurodevelopment Research published their findings recently in the peer-reviewed journal Brain.
The researchers examined data from hundreds of prenatal ultrasound scans from the fetal anatomy survey conducted during mid-gestation. They found anomalies in the heart, kidneys, and head in 30% of fetuses who later developed ASD, a three times higher rate than was found in typically developing fetuses from the general population and twice as high as their typically developing siblings.
Anomalies were detected more often in girls than in boys and the severity of the anomalies was also linked to the subsequent severity of ASD.
This study and others will be discussed at the Israeli Meeting for Autism Research to be held February 15-16 at BGU.
Prof. Idan Menashe, a member of the Centre and the Department of Public Health in the Faculty of Health Sciences, led the research with his MD/PhD student Ohad Regev.
"Doctors can use these signs, discernable during a routine ultrasound, to evaluate the probability of the child being born with ASD," says Prof. Menashe, "Previous studies have shown that children born with congenital diseases, primarily those involving the heart and kidneys, had a higher chance of developing ASD. Our findings suggest that certain types of ASD that involve other organ anomalies, begin and can be detected in utero."
A previous study of the Centre found early diagnosis and treatment increased social ability by three times as much. Prenatal diagnosis could mean a course of treatment from birth instead of waiting until age 2 or 3 or even later.
The study was conducted as part of Ohad Regev's doctoral thesis, advised by Prof. Idan Menashe and Prof. Reli Hershkovitz. Additional researchers from Ben-Gurion University and Soroka Medical Center included: Dr. Amnon Hadar, Dr. Gal Meiri, Dr. Hagit Flusser, Dr. Analya Michaelovski, and Prof. Ilan Dinstein.
This study was supported by a grant from the Israel Science Foundation (No. 1092/21) and made use of the National Autism Database supported by the Ministry of Innovation, Science and Technology, and the Azrieli Foundation.
As an expert in the field of prenatal diagnostics and neurodevelopmental research, my extensive knowledge allows me to provide insights into the recent study conducted by Ben-Gurion University of the Negev and Soroka Medical Center regarding the identification of early signs of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) through routine prenatal ultrasound in the second trimester.
The study, published in the peer-reviewed journal Brain by researchers from the Azrieli National Centre for Autism and Neurodevelopment Research, delves into the analysis of data from hundreds of prenatal ultrasound scans during mid-gestation. The researchers observed anomalies in the heart, kidneys, and head in 30% of fetuses later diagnosed with ASD. This rate is three times higher than in typically developing fetuses from the general population and twice as high as their typically developing siblings.
The anomalies were found to be more prevalent in girls than in boys, and the severity of these anomalies correlated with the subsequent severity of ASD. Professor Idan Menashe, a key figure in the study, highlighted the significance of these findings, stating that doctors can use discernable signs from routine ultrasounds to evaluate the probability of a child being born with ASD.
The study also emphasizes the potential for early diagnosis and treatment, as previous research from the Centre indicated a threefold increase in social ability through early intervention. Prenatal diagnosis could pave the way for a course of treatment from birth, eliminating the need to wait until age 2 or 3 for intervention.
This groundbreaking research, led by Prof. Idan Menashe and MD/PhD student Ohad Regev, is set to be discussed at the Israeli Meeting for Autism Research scheduled for February 15-16 at BGU. The interdisciplinary team involved in the study, including researchers from Ben-Gurion University and Soroka Medical Center, contributes to the robustness of the findings.
Notably, the study received support from the Israel Science Foundation and utilized the National Autism Database, backed by the Ministry of Innovation, Science and Technology, and the Azrieli Foundation. The convergence of expertise, advanced imaging technology, and comprehensive data analysis underscores the significance of this research in advancing our understanding of ASD and its potential early indicators.
