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Glucocorticosteroid use during pregnancy may have metabolic implications in offspring
Tegethoff M. Am J Resp Crit Care Med. 2011; [Published online ahead of print Dec. 16].
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Inhaled glucocorticoids taken during a pregnancy may be a risk factor for endocrine and metabolic disturbances in offspring, but likely not other illnesses, according to study results published online.
Marion Tegethoff, PhD, associate faculty member in clinical psychology and psychiatry at the University of Basel, Switzerland, and colleagues published data from 65,085 mother–child pairs in the Danish National Birth Cohort.
In statistical analyses adjusted for baseline predictors of child health, use of inhaled glucocorticoids was associated with a significantly increased risk for the first diagnosis of endocrine and metabolic disorders (HR=1.84; 95% CI, 1.13-2.99), but not of diseases in any other category. Results were similar when analyses were restricted to mother–child pairs exposed only to budesonide, the inhaled glucocorticoid used by about 80% of the women who had asthma.
The researchers said there were some limitations to the study, including a lack of data on daily inhalation doses, use of self-report of maternal asthma and the study’s focus on glucocorticoid inhalation rather than other active ingredients or glucocorticoids administered by other routes.
“Our data have both clinical and public health implications, given that asthma is common in pregnant women and inhaled glucocorticoids are the recommended treatment,” they said.
Disclosure: The researchers report no relevant financial disclosures.
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