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Heritability of autism has been estimated at 50% to 70% (Mol Psychiatry 2013; 18:137), which suggests a nongenetic, environmental pathogenesis or gene–environment factors such as immune mechanisms. (For example, maternal levels of tumor necrosis factor α and interleukin 6 [IL-6] differ between autism and normal offspring.) These researchers used data from Finnish birth and autism registries to examine C-reactive protein (CRP) levels from maternal sera in the first and second trimesters. CRP is an acute phase reactant stimulated by IL-6.
Registry data from 1987 included 1.2 million births and 1132 children with autism who were followed through 2007. Researchers validated the registry autism diagnoses with comprehensive interview diagnoses on …