Finnish Prenatal Study of Tourette Syndrome and Other Tic Disorders (FIPS-TIC)

Grant Type
Clinical
Grant Year
2014-2015
Institution Location
Foreign
Institution Organization Name
University of Turku Finland
Investigators Name
Sourander, Andre Leif, MD, PhD

The complex etiology of Tourette syndrome (TS) and other tic disorders remains unclear. There has been a longstanding consensus regarding the contribution of the genetic factors to the development of TS. However, a multifactorial etiology including extra-genetic factors appears likely. The studies of pre-peri-and postnatal risk factors are, however, relatively few, inconsistent and have some methodological limitation including small sample sizes and retrospective approach. The FIPS-TIC is a register-based case-control study. It is based on linking data from several nationwide Finnish registers: Finnish hospital discharge register (FHDR), Finnish birth register, Finnish maternity cohort and prescription register of Kela and child health clinics. The registers include data on several pre-peri-and postnatal and familial factors. In addition, Finnish maternity cohort includes serum samples of all pregnant women in Finland. We have identified all children born in Finland 1.1.1991-31.12.2010 who are diagnosed with tic disorders (n=3003). All the cases are matched to four controls by sex, birth date and the place of birth. Specifically we aim to examine: 1.The relation between TS and serologically documented prenatal biomarker: C-reactive protein, a biomarker of immune activation. 2.The association between TS and other tic disorders and serious (hospital-treated) maternal infections and the use of antibiotics during the pregnancy. 3.The association between prenatal maternal smoking and Tourette and other tic disorders, and further the association between TS and serologically documented prenatal biomarker cotinine, as a marker of smoking. 4.The relation between TS and other tic disorders and parental psychiatric history and socioeconomic status. 5.The association between TS and other tic disorders and perinatal factors: hypoxia at birth and birth weight adjusted to gestational age. Andre Leif Sourander, M.D., Ph.D., Alan Brown, M.D., Ph.D., M.P.H., Heljä-Marja Surcel, M.D., Ph.D., and Arja Voutilainen, M.D., Ph.D. University of Turku, Finland Award: $150,000 Tourette Association of America Inc. – Research Grant Award 2014-2015