Maternal inflammation during early pregnancy has been linked to an increased risk of autism in children, according to new research.
In the new study, researchers found an increased risk of autism in children of mothers with elevated C-reactive protein (CRP), a marker of systemic inflammation.
Researchers note there is mounting evidence that an overactive immune system can alter the development of the central nervous system in a fetus.
The study found that the risk of autism was increased by 43 percent for children whose mothers had CRP levels in the top 20th percentile, and by 80 percent for maternal CRP in the top 10th percentile.
