Epidural labour analgesia and autism spectrum disorder: is the current evidence sufficient to dismiss an association?

Abstract

Findings from a population-based study using a sibling-matched analysis published in this issue of the British Journal of Anaesthesia indicate that epidural labour analgesia is not associated with an increased risk of autism spectrum disorder. These findings are consistent with those from three other population-based studies that used similar methodological approaches. Cumulatively, these robust, high-quality epidemiological data support the assertion that there is no meaningful association between epidural labour analgesia and autism spectrum disorder in offspring.