Acid Blocking Therapy During Pregnancy Increases the Odds for Childhood Asthma

Abstract

RationaleSince recent data suggest that acid blockade therapy in pregnant mice primes the fetal immune system towards allergy, we examined the effect of human prenatal exposure to acid blocking medications on the development of allergies in children.MethodsRetrospective observational cohort study using three Swedish national health care registers: the Medical Birth Register (1995-2004), the Hospital Discharge Register (1995-2006), and the Swedish Prescribed Drug Register (2005-2006). Main outcome measures included hospital discharge diagnosis of allergic disease (asthma, food allergy, atopic dermatitis, unspecified allergic reaction/anaphylaxis, allergic rhinitis) or prescription for allergy medication (asthma medications, epinephrine auto-injector, antihistamines, steroid ointments) in children exposed to acid blockade therapy in utero and in non-exposed children.ResultsMaternal intake of acid blocking medications during pregnancy increased their children's odds for asthma significantly by 51% (OR 1.51, 95% CI 1.35-1.69), but did not increase the odds for other allergic diseases (OR 1.13, 95% CI 0.91-1.40). This effect was preserved irrespective of the type of acid blocking drug, time of exposure during pregnancy, and maternal history of allergy.ConclusionPrenatal exposure to acid blocking drugs increases the odds of developing childhood asthma. This data provides first evidence for a novel potential risk factor for the development of allergic diseases in children. RationaleSince recent data suggest that acid blockade therapy in pregnant mice primes the fetal immune system towards allergy, we examined the effect of human prenatal exposure to acid blocking medications on the development of allergies in children. Since recent data suggest that acid blockade therapy in pregnant mice primes the fetal immune system towards allergy, we examined the effect of human prenatal exposure to acid blocking medications on the development of allergies in children. MethodsRetrospective observational cohort study using three Swedish national health care registers: the Medical Birth Register (1995-2004), the Hospital Discharge Register (1995-2006), and the Swedish Prescribed Drug Register (2005-2006). Main outcome measures included hospital discharge diagnosis of allergic disease (asthma, food allergy, atopic dermatitis, unspecified allergic reaction/anaphylaxis, allergic rhinitis) or prescription for allergy medication (asthma medications, epinephrine auto-injector, antihistamines, steroid ointments) in children exposed to acid blockade therapy in utero and in non-exposed children. Retrospective observational cohort study using three Swedish national health care registers: the Medical Birth Register (1995-2004), the Hospital Discharge Register (1995-2006), and the Swedish Prescribed Drug Register (2005-2006). Main outcome measures included hospital discharge diagnosis of allergic disease (asthma, food allergy, atopic dermatitis, unspecified allergic reaction/anaphylaxis, allergic rhinitis) or prescription for allergy medication (asthma medications, epinephrine auto-injector, antihistamines, steroid ointments) in children exposed to acid blockade therapy in utero and in non-exposed children. ResultsMaternal intake of acid blocking medications during pregnancy increased their children's odds for asthma significantly by 51% (OR 1.51, 95% CI 1.35-1.69), but did not increase the odds for other allergic diseases (OR 1.13, 95% CI 0.91-1.40). This effect was preserved irrespective of the type of acid blocking drug, time of exposure during pregnancy, and maternal history of allergy. Maternal intake of acid blocking medications during pregnancy increased their children's odds for asthma significantly by 51% (OR 1.51, 95% CI 1.35-1.69), but did not increase the odds for other allergic diseases (OR 1.13, 95% CI 0.91-1.40). This effect was preserved irrespective of the type of acid blocking drug, time of exposure during pregnancy, and maternal history of allergy. ConclusionPrenatal exposure to acid blocking drugs increases the odds of developing childhood asthma. This data provides first evidence for a novel potential risk factor for the development of allergic diseases in children. Prenatal exposure to acid blocking drugs increases the odds of developing childhood asthma. This data provides first evidence for a novel potential risk factor for the development of allergic diseases in children.