title: Review: Placental adaptations to the presence of maternal asthma during pregnancy.
abstract: Asthma is a highly prevalent chronic medical condition affecting an estimated 12% of pregnant, women each year, with prevalence of asthma greatest (up to 16%) among the socially disadvantaged. Maternal asthma is associated with significant perinatal morbidity and mortality including preterm births, neonatal hospitalisations and low birthweight outcomes each year. We have identified that the placenta adapts to the presence of chronic, maternal asthma during pregnancy in a sex specific manner that may confer sex differences in fetal outcome. The male fetus was at greater risk of a poor outcome than a female fetus in the presence of maternal asthma and an acute inflammatory event such as an asthma exacerbation. This review will examine the role of sex specific differences in placental function on fetal growth and survival.
authors.affiliation: Mater Medical Research Institute, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia.
authors.forename: A S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Meakin
authors.affiliation: Mater Medical Research Institute, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia.
authors.forename: Z
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Saif
authors.affiliation: Mater Medical Research Institute, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia.
authors.forename: A R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Jones
authors.affiliation: Mater Medical Research Institute, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia.
authors.forename: P F Valenzula
authors.initials: PFV
authors.lastname: Aviles
authors.affiliation: Mater Medical Research Institute, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia. Electronic address: vicki.clifton@mater.uq.edu.au.
authors.forename: V L
authors.initials: VL
authors.lastname: Clifton
mesh_terms: D000222:Adaptation, Physiological; D000728:Androgens / Q000502:physiology; D001249:Asthma / Q000276:immunology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005260:Female; D047109:Fetal Development; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000502:physiology; D009389:Neovascularization, Pathologic; D018384:Oxidative Stress; D010920:Placenta / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000276:immunology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D012727:Sex Characteristics; D013002:Somatomedins / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000728:Androgens; D005938:Glucocorticoids; D013002:Somatomedins; D006854:Hydrocortisone
keywords: Asthma; Fetus; Growth; Placenta; Sex