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Maternal Hypothyroidism and Autism

  • Living reference work entry
  • First Online:
Encyclopedia of Autism Spectrum Disorders

  • 134 Accesses

Synonyms

Iodothyronine deiodinase (D2T3); Thyrotropin, Thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH); Thyroxine (T)

Structure

The thyroid gland is part of the endocrine system. It regulates the rate of metabolism and impacts growth by its regulation of other tissues through secretion of hormones triiodothyronine (T3) and thyroxine (T4). The substrates these hormones are synthesized from are iodine and tyrosine. The rate that these hormones are produced is regulated by thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) from the anterior pituitary gland. TSH is itself regulated by thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH) produced by the hypothalamus. The fetus begins to make T3 at 18–20 weeks’ gestation and T4 by 30 weeks. This may be partially protective from maternal hypothyroidism.

Function

Thyroid hormones are critical to normal brain development.

The thyroid regulates metabolism and growth and impacts both calcium metabolism and catecholamine effects.

Typical symptoms of hypothyroidism (low hormone production)...

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics, Golisano Children’s Hospital, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY, USA

    Stephen Sulkes

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  1. Stephen Sulkes
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Stephen Sulkes .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Yale Child Study Center, New Haven, CT, USA

    Fred R. Volkmar

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Sulkes, S. (2018). Maternal Hypothyroidism and Autism. In: Volkmar, F. (eds) Encyclopedia of Autism Spectrum Disorders. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-6435-8_30-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-6435-8_30-3

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  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4614-6435-8

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