title: Population-based case-control study of allergic rhinitis during pregnancy for birth outcomes.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Allergic rhinitis is frequent in women of childbearing age including pregnancy. The present study aimed to estimate the effect of maternal allergic rhinitis on birth outcomes, in particular congenital abnormalities, preterm birth and low birthweight newborns.
  
  
  METHODS
  Analysis of the population-based data of the Hungarian Case-Control Surveillance of Congenital Abnormalities between 1980 and 1996.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The evaluation of data did not reveal any teratogenic potential of allergic rhinitis and indeed a lower prevalence of total congenital abnormalities was found. In addition, a protective effect could be observed for preterm birth due to longer gestational age (adjusted t=2.97, p=0.003).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Allergic rhinitis is not risk factor for pregnant women.
authors.affiliation: Department of Respiratory Medicine, School of Medicine, Semmelweis University, 1536 Budapest 114, P.O. Box 250, Budapest, Hungary. Electronic address: akos@pulm.sote.hu.
authors.forename: Ákos
authors.initials: Á
authors.lastname: Somoskövi
authors.affiliation: Department of Respiratory Medicine, School of Medicine, Semmelweis University, 1536 Budapest 114, P.O. Box 250, Budapest, Hungary.
authors.forename: Zoltán
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Bártfai
authors.affiliation: Department of Respiratory Medicine, School of Medicine, Semmelweis University, 1536 Budapest 114, P.O. Box 250, Budapest, Hungary.
authors.forename: Lilla
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Tamási
authors.affiliation: III Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary.
authors.forename: Judit
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kocsis
authors.affiliation: National Institute for Epidemiology, Department of Human Genetics and Teratology, Budapest, Hungary; Foundation for the Community Control of Hereditary Diseases, Budapest, Hungary.
authors.forename: Erzsébet
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Puhó
authors.affiliation: Foundation for the Community Control of Hereditary Diseases, Budapest, Hungary.
authors.forename: Andrew E
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Czeizel
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D000013:Congenital Abnormalities / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D006814:Hungary / Q000453:epidemiology; D007230:Infant, Low Birth Weight; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D016015:Logistic Models; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000453:epidemiology*; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015995:Prevalence; D006255:Rhinitis, Allergic, Seasonal / Q000453:epidemiology*; D012307:Risk Factors