[Lung diseases in pregnancy]

Pulmonary diseases play a particular role during pregnancy. First, the adaptive hyperventilation of the mother implies sufficient pulmonary reserves, and second, and increasing oxygen consumption of the fetus during pregnancy might be compromised by maternal hypoxemia and could be followed by fetal growth retardation and fetal hypoxemia. Asthma bronchiale is the leading pulmonary disease in pregnancy and is not associated with higher risk for pregnancy and fetus when sufficiently threatened. First line medicaments are beta-2-agonists and steroids. Pneumonia however is a serious menace to the pregnant women, especially when not early diagnosed and correctly treated. Respecting the leading germs, macrolids or wide-spectrum penicillins are used. Tuberculosis has no deleterious effect on pregnancy with early diagnosis and treatment, which follows the usual guidelines during pregnancy with isoniacid, rifampicin and ethambutol. Cystic Fibrosis is not a strict contraindication for a pregnancy, especially for mild clinical forms. However, preconceptional counseling and regular clinical controls before and during pregnancy are indispensible. Deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism are more frequent during pregnancy; the search for risk factors, prophylaxis and treatment are essential to avoid these complications. Heparin is the ideal prophylaxis and treatment in pregnancy, while oral anticoagulants should be avoided because of their effect on the fetus.