EVALUATION OF AUTISTIC SPECTRUM DISORDER IN CHILDREN OF MOTHERS WITH GESTATIONAL INFECTIONS

Abstract

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a complex and heterogeneous condition that affects the development of social, communicative and behavioral skills. It is known that several factors can contribute to the development of ASD, including genetic predisposition, environment and complex interactions between the two. An area of growing interest in ASD research involves the potential influences of maternal health during pregnancy, including gestational infections. Infections during pregnancy have been the subject of investigation due to the possible relationship between the maternal immune response and the risk of developing ASD in children. This systematic literature review aims to examine and synthesize the available evidence on the assessment of autism spectrum disorder in children born to mothers who experienced gestational infections. Objective: to investigate and analyze studies published in the last 10 years that address the assessment of autism spectrum disorder in children whose mothers were affected by infections during pregnancy. Methodology: To carry out this systematic review, four important databases were used: PubMed, Scielo and Web of Science. The descriptors used in the search included "autism spectrum disorder", "gestational infections", "maternal health", "child development" and "risk factors". About the Inclusion Criteria: studies that were published in the last 10 years, which addressed the relationship between gestational infections and the risk of developing ASD in children, were considered for inclusion in the review and studies with representative samples and robust methodologies were also included. Exclusion Criteria: Studies were excluded if they were not available in full text, did not directly address the relationship between gestational infections and ASD, or presented unreliable results and studies in languages other than English, Portuguese and Spanish were also excluded. Results: 15 articles were selected. The results highlighted that the presence of maternal infections during pregnancy may be associated with an increased risk of developing ASD in their children. However, the magnitude and nature of this association varied between studies, indicating the complexity of the phenomenon. Furthermore, several confounding factors and modulators of the relationship were identified, such as the moment of infection, severity and treatment. Evidence also suggests that the maternal immune response plays an important role in this relationship, but there are still gaps in understanding the pathways and mechanisms involved. Conclusion: this systematic literature review highlights the importance of considering gestational infections as a potential risk factor for the development of autism spectrum disorder in children. Although the studies reviewed provided significant insights, the complexity and variations in results highlight the need for further investigation. Therefore, future research should focus on understanding the underlying mechanisms in order to develop preventive strategies and targeted interventions that may contribute to reducing the risk of ASD in children born to mothers with gestational infections.