Autism Spectrum Disorder Comorbid with Gilles De La Tourette Syndrome in a Child of in Vitro Fertilization: About A Case and A Review of the Literature

Abstract

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a common neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by persistent impairment in reciprocal communication and social interactions and a restricted repetitive pattern of behaviors, interests, or activities. Tourette syndrome (TS) is a neurological disorder with a genetic component characterized by involuntary, sudden, brief and intermittent tics, resulting in movements (motor tics) or vocalizations (sound tics). Although a differential diagnosis of the two conditions can often be made, there are also cases of comorbidity in the same patient. Recently, a number of studies have attempted to explore modifiable environmental risk factors for ASD and TS. Among these risk factors is in vitro fertilization, an assisted reproduction technique, which has become increasingly common. The aim of our work is to highlight via a clinical case and a review of the literature on the association between the use of in vitro fertilization, the risk of autism spectrum disorder and Tourette syndrome. Compared to spontaneous conception, in vitro fertilization treatment as a whole was associated with a small but statistically significantly increased risk of autism spectrum disorder and Tourette syndrome.