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Fetal growth promotion in allergic children
Yutaka Kawano1, Miki Morikawa, Misa Watanabe
1Department of Pediatrics, Yokohama City Minato Red Cross Hospital, Yokohama, Japan. kawanoyutaka@mbj.ocn.ne.jp
Insights
Infants with allergies had higher birth weights and shorter gestational periods. This suggests an intrauterine environment promoting fetal growth may accelerate allergic disease development, possibly due to T-helper 2 (Th2) immunity.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Perinatology
- Allergology
Background:
- In vitro studies suggest Th2-skewed immunity in pregnant mothers of infants with atopic diseases.
- The intrauterine environment's role in fetal development and allergic disease onset requires further investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between maternal and infant allergic status and birth outcomes.
- To explore the potential link between intrauterine growth promotion and the development of allergic diseases.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective analysis of birth weights and gestational ages.
- Comparison between allergic and non-allergic infants and mothers.
Main Results:
- Allergic infants exhibited higher birth weights and shorter gestational periods compared to non-allergic infants.
- Allergic mothers gave birth to neonates with higher birth weights and shorter gestational ages than non-allergic mothers.
- Data indicated promotion of intrauterine growth in both allergic children and mothers.
Conclusions:
- A favorable intrauterine environment promoting fetal growth is associated with allergic conditions.
- This enhanced intrauterine growth may accelerate the development of offspring allergic diseases, potentially mediated by Th2-oriented immunity.
Abstract:
Several in vitro studies have suggested the presence of Th2-skewed immunity during pregnancy in infants with atopic diseases. Our study indicated that allergic infants showed a higher birth weight and shorter gestational period at birth than those of non-allergic peers. Moreover, allergic mothers gave birth to neonates whose birth weights and gestational ages were higher and shorter than those of the non-allergic mothers, respectively. Thus, our data clearly demonstrated the promotion of intrauterine growth, either in the allergic children, or allergic mothers. Such an intrauterine environment favorable for the fetal growth may also accelerate the development of allergic diseases in their offspring that are most probably caused by the Th2-oriented immunity.
