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Can allergic diseases be prevented prenatally?
1Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Royal Children's Hospital, Parkville, VIC., Australia.
Insights
Prenatal interventions show promise in preventing allergic diseases by influencing early life exposures. Further research could lead to public health initiatives reducing the burden of allergies.
Area of Science:
- Allergy and immunology
- Developmental biology
- Public health
Background:
- Allergic diseases affect over a third of the global population, with increasing prevalence.
- Evidence suggests early life exposures, particularly during pregnancy and early childhood, are critical in disease development.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review evidence on the role of prenatal exposures in allergic disease development.
- To evaluate the potential of prenatal interventions for preventing allergic diseases.
Main Methods:
- Review of existing animal and human studies on prenatal exposures and interventions.
- Analysis of mechanisms through which prenatal interventions may prevent allergic sensitization.
Main Results:
- Prenatal interventions can influence the future development of allergic disease.
- Evidence supports the effectiveness of interventions during pregnancy for prevention.
Conclusions:
- Prenatal interventions represent a viable strategy for population-based allergy prevention.
- Continued investigation is warranted to develop public health initiatives for reducing allergic disease burden.
Abstract:
Allergic diseases continue to increase in prevalence, and now affect over a third of the population in many countries. There is evidence that the increase in such diseases has its origins in early life exposures. Pregnancy or early childhood may therefore be critical periods for preventing the onset of allergic disease, and prenatal interventions are an attractive possibility for a population-based preventive approach. Here we review the data suggesting that prenatal exposures are important in the development of allergic disease, and that interventions during this time might be effective in prevention. We find evidence from both animal and human studies that prenatal interventions can influence the future development of allergic disease. There are a number of mechanisms through which such interventions may act to prevent allergic sensitization. We conclude that prenatal interventions have the potential to reduce the burden of allergic disease, and merit continued investigation. Further research in this area may lead to significant public health initiatives.
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