Abstract
We report on the outcome of 56 pregnancies in 51 women with severe asthma requiring prednisone and/or beclomethasone dipropionate. There were no malformations, neonatal deaths, or maternal deaths. The overall incidence of premature (<37 weeks gestational age) and low birth-weight infants (≤2500 gr) was slightly higher than would be expected in the general population. These findings appeared attributable in part to infants of gravidas whose asthma was complicated by emergency room visits or status asthmaticus. There was a statistically increased incidence of low birth weight and small size for gestational age infants in the eight infants born to women who experienced status asthmaticus when these infants were compared to the 41 infants born to women who did not require emergency room therapy or develop status asthmaticus. Our data confirm that prednisone and beclomethasone dipropionate are appropriate therapy for pregnant women with severe asthma and suggest that the prevention of status asthmaticus may result in a favorable outcome for the fetus. The current study confirms previous evaluations of pregnant women with severe asthma conducted by Northwestern University Allergy Service and extends the series to 171 pregnancies.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 349-353 |
| Number of pages | 5 |
| Journal | The Journal of allergy and clinical immunology |
| Volume | 78 |
| Issue number | 2 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - Aug 1986 |
Funding
The incidence of asthma during pregnancy is approximately 1%. ~ Inadequately controlled asthma may result in hypoxemia and alkalosis that may be detrimental to the fetus.2" 3 Asthma during pregnancy has been reported to be associated with an increased incidence of perinatal deaths, ~ neonatal deaths,4 preterm infants, 4' ~ and low birth-weight infants?' 6 These prior series have either not included details of the medication used by the pregnant women with asthma 1' 4 or have included no information regarding the severity/control of the asthma during pregnancy?' ~ Thus, from the available data, one cannot determine whether the increased perinatal morbidity/mortality associated with asthma during pregnancy is due to the blood gas abnormalities associated with uncontrolled asthma, 2' 3 the medications used to treat the asthma, or other factors associated with the presence of maternal asthma. The present study describes a group of women whose medication usage and whose degree of severity/control are so well documented that an attempt can be made to determine the perinatal effects of uncon- From the Section of Allergy-lmmunologyD epartment of Medicine, Northwestern University Medical School, Chicago, I11. Supported by United States Public Health Service Grant AI 11403 and the Ernest S. Bazley grant. Received for publication July 29, 1985. Accepted for publication Feb. 10, 1986. Reprint requests: Paul A. Greenberger, M.D., Northwestern Uni-versity Medical School, 303 E. Chicago Ave., Chicago, IL 60611.
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Immunology and Allergy
- Immunology