Autism and Congenital Heart Disease Share Underlying Molecular Network. A recent study of gene networks may hold some promising clues about shared mechanisms underlying autism spectrum disorder and congenital heart disease, two physiologically distinct disorders that often co-occur. Source 1z.
The study, "Congenital Heart Disease and Autism: A Case-Control Study," published online Oct. 10 in the American Academy of Pediatrics, found that children with congenital heart disease are more likely to develop autism spectrum disorder, especially when are diagnosed with atrial septal defects or ventricular septal defects.