Related Experiment Video
Updated: Nov 10, 2025

Noninvasive Sampling of Mucosal Lining Fluid for the Quantification of In Vivo Upper Airway Immune-mediator Levels
Published on: August 7, 2017
Maternal asthma during pregnancy and risks of allergy and asthma in progeny: a systematic review protocol
Andrea J Roff1,2, Janna L Morrison3, Andrew Tai1,2,4
1Robinson Research Institute, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA, Australia.
Insights
Maternal asthma during pregnancy increases offspring allergy risk. This review synthesizes evidence on prenatal asthma exposure and postnatal allergies in children, examining asthma severity impacts.
Area of Science:
- Reproductive immunology
- Pediatric allergy
- Epidemiology
Background:
- Maternal asthma is a known risk factor for childhood asthma.
- Emerging evidence links maternal asthma to increased allergy risk in offspring, suggesting non-genetic factors.
- The precise relationship between maternal asthma severity during pregnancy and offspring allergy is not fully understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To systematically review and synthesize evidence on the association between in utero exposure to maternal asthma and postnatal allergy in children.
- To investigate how maternal asthma control, exacerbations, and severity during pregnancy influence the risk of allergy and asthma in offspring.
Main Methods:
- Systematic review of primary studies.
- Inclusion of studies reporting physician-diagnosed asthma or allergic disease in children exposed to maternal asthma in utero versus unexposed controls.
- Comprehensive database searches (PubMed, Embase, etc.) with no date restrictions, English full-text only.
Main Results:
- This section is to be populated upon completion of the review.
Conclusions:
- This section is to be populated upon completion of the review.
Objective:
The primary objective of this systematic review is to synthesize the best available evidence on the relationship between in utero exposure to maternal asthma and postnatal allergy. Secondary objectives are to investigate the impact of asthma loss of control, asthma exacerbation, and asthma severity during pregnancy on risks of allergy and asthma in progeny.
Introduction:
Maternal asthma is a well-known risk factor for childhood asthma, with recent evidence suggesting that children of asthmatic mothers are also at increased risk of allergic diseases. Importantly, these do not appear to be purely genetic associations, since maternal asthma is more strongly associated with childhood asthma than paternal asthma. In addition, experimentally induced allergic asthma during pregnancy increases allergic responses to sensitization in mice. The strength of the relationships between exposure to maternal asthma or severity of maternal asthma, and progeny asthma and allergy are unknown.
Inclusion Criteria:
This review will include primary studies that report incidence of physician-diagnosed asthma or allergic disease in human progeny who were exposed in utero to maternal asthma, in comparison to progeny not exposed to maternal asthma.
Methods:
Initial search terms include (pregnan∗ OR gestat∗) AND asthma∗ AND allerg∗. We will search the following electronic databases for published and unpublished evidence: PubMed, Embase, MEDLINE (Ovid), Web of Science, Cochrane Library, CINAHL, Scopus, Informit Health, MedNar, ProQuest, and Trove. There will be no restrictions on publication date. Only studies available as a full-text English publication will be considered for inclusion.
Systematic Review Registration Number:
PROSPERO CRD42020201538.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
Asthma-I: Introduction
Asthma: Pathogenesis and Management
Asthma is classified as allergic and non-allergic. Allergens such as dust mites, pollen, and pet dander trigger allergic asthma, while factors like cold air, intense emotions, or exercise can induce non-allergic asthma.
Asthma-II: Pathophysiology and Classification
Additionally, environmental and genetic factors play crucial roles in determining an individual's susceptibility to asthma and the severity of their condition.
Critical processes in asthma pathophysiology include:
Upper Respiratory Drugs: Antitussives, Expectorants, and Mucolytics
Antitussives include codeine, dextromethorphan (Robitussin), and benzonatate (Tessalon). Codeine and dextromethorphan exert their effects centrally by suppressing the cough reflex center in the medulla. Benzonatate operates peripherally within the respiratory tract by...
Antiasthma Drugs: Mast Cell Stabilizers and Anti-IgE Drugs
Mast cell stabilizers, such as cromolyn (also known as sodium cromoglycate) and nedocromil (Tilade), are effective drugs in asthma management. These stabilizers hinder histamine release by skillfully obstructing the activation of mast cells and other cellular entities. Notably, they navigate this task without...
Asthma-IV: Diagnostic and Management
Clinical Assessment for Asthma:
This is the first step in diagnosing and managing asthma. It includes:

