|
SELECTED ARTICLES FROM THE RECENT LITERATURE 2007
September 28, 2007
Maternal asthma and pregnancy outcomes
Summary
Background - The presence of asthma represents a potential complicating factor in pregnant women.
Findings - Enriquez et al examined the records of 140,299 asthmatic women in a Medicaid population. Many of these patients had a record of poor adherence to asthma treatment and high rates of Emergency Dept. visits for asthma treatment. They found a significant association between the frequency of asthma exacerbations and complications of pregnancy (hypertension, membrane disorders, prematurity, antepartum hemorrhage, cesarean delivery, low birth weight).
Reference
Allergy Clin Immunol 2007;120:
Editor's Comments
These findings are not surprising but are quite disturbing nevertheless. Previous studies have shown that asthma well controlled on inhaled corticosteroid (ICS) therapy usually does not exert major adverse effects on pregnancy. Yet, some asthmatic women are very reluctant to use ICS because of concerns about potential adverse effects of such treatment on their unborn children. There is good evidence that some concerns are very exaggerated.
|