Exposure to endogenous oxytocin during labor also may affect as yet unidentified genetic factors. For example, they recently found that the promoter region of the oxytocin receptor gene exhibits differential methylation in autistic than in control populations, Dr. Gregory and his associates said.
"Our results suggest the need for further research focusing on the association of labor induction/ augmentation with autism..."
This study was limited in that the birth registry didn’t include data concerning all the possible factors that could influence neonatal neurologic injury; it was missing information such as prenatal and intrapartum medication exposures and certain labor abnormalities, they noted.
In addition, the school data didn’t provide details about "where a child lay on the autism spectrum," so "the estimated associations represent an average effect over varying degrees of autism presentation."
"In conclusion ... our results suggest the need for further research focusing on the association of labor induction/augmentation with autism," the investigators said.
This study was funded in part by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. No financial conflicts of interest were reported.