antiasthmatics do not increase risk of perinatal complications

Reactions 1010 - 17 Jul 2004

Antiasthmatics do not increase riskof perinatal complications

Maternal use of antiasthmatics is not associated withadverse perinatal outcomes, although oralcorticosteroids may increase the risk of preterm birthand low birth weight, according to researchers from theUS.

To evaluate the relationship between antiasthmaticsand perinatal complications, the researchers assessed2123 pregnant women with asthma aged 13–44 years;1739 were from an observational cohort study,* and 384were from a randomised controlled trial ofbeclometasone vs theophylline.**

No significant relationships were observed betweenthe use of inhaled β-adrenoceptor agonists, inhaledcorticosteroids, theophylline or sodium cromoglicate/nedocromil, and adverse perinatal outcomes, includinggestational hypertension, preterm birth, low birthweight, small for gestational age and majormalformations. However, maternal use of oralcorticosteroids was significantly associated with bothpreterm birth at < 37 weeks’ gestation, and low birthweight, with adjusted odds ratios of 1.54 (95% CI 1.02,2.33) and 1.80 (1.13, 2.88), respectively.* National Institute of Child Health and Human Development(NICHD) Maternal Fetal Medicine Units (MFMU) Network asthmaobservational cohort study** NICHD MFMU Network randomised controlled trial ofbeclometasone versus theophylline for moderate asthma duringpregnancy

Schatz M, et al. The relationship of asthma medication use to perinatal outcomes.Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology 113: 1040-1045, No. 6, Jun2004 800954769

1

Reactions 17 Jul 2004 No. 10100114-9954/10/1010-0001/$14.95 Adis © 2010 Springer International Publishing AG. All rights reserved