Infant Jaundice Linked To Higher Risk Of Autism And Psychological Development Disorders In General

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Main Category: Autism
Also Included In: Pediatrics / Children's Health;  Psychology / Psychiatry
Article Date: 11 Oct 2010 - 6:00 PDT

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A baby with neonatal jaundice, meaning jaundice within a few days or weeks of being born, has a higher risk of being diagnosed with autism or some other psychological development disorder later on in life compared to infants who did not have neonatal jaundice, Danish researchers report in an article published in Pediatrics. Neonatal jaundice, also known as neonatal hyperbilirubinemia and physiologic jaundice of the newborn refers to the yellowish staining of the whites of the eyes (sclerae) and skin by bilirubin (a pigment of bile). It is caused by the breakdown of red blood cells which release bilirubin into the bloodstream, as well as the immaturity of the baby's liver which cannot metabolize the bilirubin properly. In most cases, neonatal jaundice occurs during the second to fifth days of a baby's life, and gradually clears up.

In this latest study, the authors found that a much higher percentage of newborns between 1994 and 2004 who had developed jaundice had a risk of developing autism. None of them had been born prematurely.

The researchers gathered data on 35,000 newborns who had jaundice. Autism was eventually diagnosed in 577 of them. 9% of the children eventually diagnosed with autism had jaundice during their first days of life, compared to 3% of children without autism.

The authors explain that prolonged exposure to elevated bilirubin levels can cause developmental problems which can persist for the rest of the child's life. Many infants have some degree of jaundice, which usually clears up within a week of being born.

Higher autism risk among newborns with jaundice was more markedly noticed among babies in Denmark born between October and March (from late Autumn until late winter/early spring). They also reveal that the risk was also higher if the mother had already had children.

The risk of autism among newborns with jaundice was no higher if the baby was born during late Spring to early Autumn (April-September), compared to babies who did not have jaundice.

The two factors that suggest possible links during the Danish winter months are less exposure to sunlight and a higher risk of infections.

A mother carrying a first child has different levels of antibodies compared to a mother who has already had children and is pregnant, the authors write. There may also be a difference in access two health care immediately after giving birth (between first time mothers and mothers who have already had children). The researchers write that these two factors require further investigation.

A Danish woman who has already had children is discharged from hospital much earlier than a first-time mother, who stays in hospital for three or four days. Perhaps a higher number of babies with jaundice from first-time mothers are diagnosed.

The researchers concluded:

Gestational age, parity, and season of birth play important roles in this association.

The authors stress that their study did not look into the severity of jaundice.

"Neonatal Jaundice, Autism, and Other Disorders of Psychological Development"
Rikke Damkjaer Maimburget al
Published online October 11, 2010
PEDIATRICS (doi:10.1542/peds.2010-0052d)

Written by Christian Nordqvist
Copyright: Medical News Today
Not to be reproduced without permission of Medical News Today

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