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The influence of maternal respiratory infections during pregnancy on infant lung function
Author(s) -
PutteKatier Nienke Van,
Uiterwaal Cuno S.P.M.,
De Jong Brita M.,
Kimpen Jan L.L.,
Verheij Theo J.M.,
Van Der Ent Cornelis K.
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
pediatric pulmonology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.866
H-Index - 106
eISSN - 1099-0496
pISSN - 8755-6863
DOI - 10.1002/ppul.20688
Subject(s) - medicine , pregnancy , respiratory system , offspring , respiratory infection , obstetrics , confounding , respiratory disease , respiratory tract infections , pediatrics , lung , biology , genetics
We studied whether maternal respiratory infections during pregnancy adversely influence lung growth and development of the offspring, resulting in poor early life lung function. Methods Infants were participants of the Wheezing Illnesses Study Leidsche Rijn (WHISTLER). Lung function measurements (single occlusion technique) were performed during natural sleep. Questionnaire data were used to obtain information on maternal respiratory infections during pregnancy. Multivariate analysis was conducted to assess the relationship between maternal respiratory infections during pregnancy and resistance and compliance of the respiratory system, adjusting for potential confounding variables. Results Lower values of compliance (C rs ) were found in infants of mothers with respiratory infections during pregnancy; C rs fell by 5.5% ( P = 0.031). The difference in C rs between infants of mothers with and without respiratory infections during pregnancy remained unchanged and statistically significant after adjusting for potential confounding variables. The more respiratory infections the mother experienced during pregnancy, the lower the value of C rs was in her offspring ( P for trend = 0.016). Using C rs corrected for body weight the relationship with maternal infections was non‐significant, however still showing a trend. Conclusions The results of this study may indicate that mothers who experience respiratory infections during pregnancy have newborns with lower compliance of the respiratory system. Pediatr Pulmonol. 2007; 42:945–951. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.