Uncontrolled maternal asthma during pregnancy increases likelihood of child developing asthma

Expectant mothers who eschew asthma treatment during pregnancy heighten the risk transmitting the condition to their offspring, according to one of the largest studies of its kind published in the European Respiratory Journal. A research team from the Université de Montreal, the Hospital du Sacre Coeur de Montreal and Sainte Justine University Hospital Research Centre found that 32.6 percent of children born to mothers who neglected to treat their asthma during pregnancy developed the respiratory illness themselves.

"Uncontrolled maternal asthma during pregnancy could trigger a transient yet important reaction in the foetus that affects lung development and could subsequently increase the likelihood of a baby developing asthma in later childhood," warns lead author Dr. Lucie Blais, a professor at the Université de Montreal's Faculty of Pharmacy and researcher at the Hospital du Sacre Coeur de Montreal.

As part of the study, the research team examined a decade of health records for 8,226 children - from birth to 10 years of age - born to asthmatic mothers. Parents of these children were also mailed questionnaires requesting additional facts concerning familial medical history, lifestyle habits and environment.

"We found that failing to control maternal asthma during pregnancy clearly has an impact on asthma in offspring - a consequence that is independent of other contributing factors," says Dr. Blais. "It is of great importance for physicians to adequately treat asthmatic mothers during pregnancy, not only for the favourable outcome of pregnancy but also for the benefit of the child."

Source: University of Montreal