Placental Vascular Tree as Biomarker of Autism/ASD Risk.

摘要

We have recently completed novel analyses of the chorionic surface vasculature in 33 Early Autism Risk Longitudinal Investigation (EARLI, high- autism risk) placentas compared 76 unselected National Children's Study (NCS) placentas. Using methods unique to our team to quantify vascular network structure, we have demonstrated, in summary, that EARLI placentas as a group show significant placental chorionic surface vascular network differences, including reduced number of chorionic surface vascular branch generations, branch and terminal vascular points and reduced mean vessel caliber as compared to NCS placentas. In addition, in EARLI placentas as a group, chorionic surface arteries, but not chorionic surface veins, terminate further from the surface perimeter, and have greater variability in that distance, and the distances between chorionic surface arteries and chorionic surface veins throughout their course on the chorionic surface are both greater and have greater variability. The placental vascular tree in ASD and in high ASD risk children, is measurably difference from controls with special education needs and controls without identified neurodevelopmental handicap.