Maternal asthma during pregnancy and fetal outcomes: potential mechanisms and possible solutions.

Full Abstract

PURPOSE

OF REVIEW:
Asthma exacerbations during pregnancy can be a serious complication that have detrimental consequences for both mother and fetus. The pathophysiological mechanisms that cause worsening asthma during pregnancy are only just starting to be examined. This review will examine the recent literature on immune function in pregnant women, immune function in nonpregnant asthma patients and studies conducted on asthma during pregnancy.

RECENT FINDINGS:
Fifty-five percent of women with asthma will experience at least one exacerbation during pregnancy. This has significant effects on fetal growth and survival, especially if the fetus is male. A number of factors that may contribute to the development of worsening asthma during pregnancy include pregnancy-induced changes in maternal immune function, increased maternal susceptibility to infection, female fetal sex, noncompliance with medication and prepregnancy asthma severity. Interestingly, the immune changes in the maternal system in response to the presence of the fetus and placenta are very similar to the immune changes described in nonpregnant asthma patients with noneosinophilic asthma.

SUMMARY:
These studies highlight that worsening asthma during pregnancy cannot be attributed to pregnancy alone or asthma alone and may be a complex combination of factors and events.

Learn Faster Today Improve your study skills

Author information

Author/s: Clifton, Vicki (V);

Affiliation: Mothers and Babies Research Centre, John Hunter Hospital, Hunter Medical Research Institute and the University of Newcastle, Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia. vicki.clifton(-atsign-)newcastle.edu.au

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Journal Article; Review

Journal: Current opinion in allergy and clinical immunology (Curr Opin Allergy Clin Immunol), published in United States. (Language: eng)

Reference: 2006-Oct; vol 6 (issue 5) : pp 307-11

Dates: Created 2006/09/06; Completed 2007/01/16;

PMID: 16954781, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 12/26/2008)

Sourced from the National Library of Medicine. Abstract text and other information may be subject to copyright.

External Links for this article (including full text providers, if available):

Click Electronic Full-text Provider Links to see options for finding the electronic full text links to this article. Note there may be a subscription or fee required for access to the full text. See our FAQ for information on finding FREE full text articles.

This article may also be located in paper journal collections available in many libraries. Use the Journal and Publication Information above to find the full article.

MeSH headings (categories)

This article was linked to the MESH Headings shown below.

Asthma - physiopathology
Bronchodilator Agents - therapeutic use
Female
Fetus - drug effects

Associated Chemicals: Bronchodilator Agents (0)

These are the highest related articles currently in the database:

See 100+ related articles.