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Asthma in pregnancy

Vanessa E Murphy1, Peter G Gibson2

  • 1Centre for Asthma and Respiratory Diseases, University of Newcastle and Hunter Medical Research Institute, Locked Bag 1, HRMC, Newcastle, New South Wales 2310, Australia; Department of Respiratory and Sleep Medicine, John Hunter Hospital, Locked Bag 1, HRMC, Newcastle, New South Wales 2310, Australia.

Clinics in Chest Medicine
|February 1, 2011
PubMed

Worldwide the prevalence of asthma among pregnant women is on the rise, and pregnancy leads to a worsening of asthma for many women. This article examines the changes in asthma that may occur during pregnancy, with particular reference to asthma exacerbations. Asthma affects not only the mother but the baby as well, with potential complications including low birth weight, preterm delivery, perinatal mortality, and preeclampsia. Barriers to effective asthma management and opportunities for optimized care and treatment are discussed, and a summary of the clinical guidelines for the management of asthma during pregnancy is presented.

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