The influence of maternal respiratory infections during pregnancy on infant lung function.
BACKGROUND
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 (Crs) were found in infants of mothers with respiratory infections during pregnancy; Crs fell by 5.5% (P = 0.031). The difference in Crs 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 Crs was in her offspring (P for trend = 0.016). Using Crs 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.
Van Putte-Katier
Nienke
N
Department of Pediatric Pulmonology, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
Uiterwaal
Cuno S P M
CS
De Jong
Brita M
BM
Kimpen
Jan L L
JL
Verheij
Theo J M
TJ
Van Der Ent
Cornelis K
CK
D005260:Female; D047109:Fetal Development; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008168:Lung / Q000196:embryology / Q000254:growth & development; D008170:Lung Compliance; D008297:Male; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D011247:Pregnancy; D011251:Pregnancy Complications, Infectious / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D011297:Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D012129:Respiratory Function Tests; D012141:Respiratory Tract Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires