A influência da infecção viral em mulheres grávidas na patologia do transtorno do espectro autista: uma revisão sistemática com metanálise

Abstract

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by difficulties in social communication, restricted interests, and repetitive behaviors. Infection is a common environmental factor that can influence the development of ASD and, when caused by viruses, is highly prevalent in all age groups, including the intrauterine period. The etiology of ASD has been the subject of intense research, but there are gaps to be filled. Objective: To analyze the interaction between viral infection during pregnancy and ASD. Methods: A systematic review with meta-analysis was conducted to answer the following question: What is the influence of viral infection in pregnant women on the development of Autism Spectrum Disorder? Articles were from the period of 1979 until 2023. The articles were observational, retrospective, prospective, case-control, and cohort studies that described the clinical outcome of children whose mothers were exposed to infections during pregnancy, focusing on the development or not of psychological disorders. The methodology used followed PRISMA, and Review Manager 5.4 software was used for meta-analysis calculations. Results: A total of 32 studies were included, and after analysis, the combined result yielded an OR of 0.29, demonstrating that viral infection during pregnancy increased the probability of ASD in offspring by 71%, a statistically significant result, since the confidence interval does not cross the value 1. Conclusion: In fact, this systematic review with meta-analysis found an increased risk of ASD in cases of maternal infection during pregnancy. These results may be useful for the preparation and development of prophylactic measures against ASD, as we may be close to discovering its etiology.