PREGNANCY-INDUCED CHANGES IN
ASTHMA CONTROL
As a consequence of pregnancy-associated
immunological and clinical changes, asthma
improves in approximately one-third, remains
the same in another one-third, and worsens in
one-third during gravidity, but the underlying
immunological mechanisms are mostly unknown
and biomarkers predicting deterioration are
lacking. However, there are some clinical signs that
can draw the attention of the treating physician.
The risk of asthma worsening during pregnancy
increases with disease severity before pregnancy,
and there is a concordance between the courses of
asthma during consecutive pregnancies.
47
Similarly,
asthma-specific quality of life in early pregnancy
is related to subsequent asthma morbidity during
pregnancy.
48
Asthma exacerbations are more
common and more severe in pregnant women
who smoke.49
Interestingly, female foetuses also
cause greater risk for worsening symptoms
13,50
and IUGR.
13,51
Obesity is associated both with asthma
exacerbations and non-pulmonary complications
during pregnancy (e.g. preeclampsia, gestational
diabetes, and gestational hypertension).
4
Lower
prevalence of naive T cells observed in obese
compared to non-obese asthmatic pregnant
patients may be a sign of dysfunctional pregnancyinduced immune tolerance in obese patients.
13