title: A retrospective study on the safety of immunotherapy in pregnancy.
abstract: Eighty-one Indian patients received immunotherapy for allergic diseases during 109 pregnancies. Their allergy clinic records were analysed retrospectively and this revealed an incidence similar to or less than the general population with regard to abortion, perinatal mortality, prematurity, toxaemia and congenital malformation. A control group of 60 contemporary Indian patients (82 pregnancies) who refused immunotherapy were also analysed retrospectively and this revealed a higher incidence of abortion, prematurity and toxaemia as compared with those treated with immunotherapy. It is concluded that immunotherapy for allergic diseases is safe in pregnancy. Immunotherapy is safe even when it is initiated for the first time in a pregnant patient, an aspect not reported in any study until now.
authors.affiliation: Allergy Clinic, Bombay Hospital Institute of Medical Sciences, India.
authors.forename: W A
authors.initials: WA
authors.lastname: Shaikh
mesh_terms: D000022:Abortion, Spontaneous / Q000453:epidemiology; D000013:Congenital Abnormalities / Q000453:epidemiology; D003888:Desensitization, Immunologic / Q000009:adverse effects; D005260:Female; D005313:Fetal Death / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D008499:Medical Records; D007752:Obstetric Labor, Premature / Q000453:epidemiology; D011225:Pre-Eclampsia / Q000453:epidemiology; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000276:immunology / Q000628:therapy*; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012449:Safety