Asthmatic Women Research Articles

Continued Use of Asthma Medication During Pregnancy Keeps Wheezing at Bay

Asthma affects 8% to 9% of pregnant women; however, whether asthma's severity changes during pregnancy is unclear. A total of 641 asthmatic women who were recruited from community obstetricians and prenatal clinics were interviewed at gestational weeks 16, 20, 28, and 36 and postpartum. Based on their asthma symptoms and medication use, participants were classified according to Global …

Obesity-Asthma Association: Is It Explained by Systemic Oxidant Stress?

The mechanism for the obesity-asthma association is unknown. This study evaluated the hypothesis that systemic oxidant stress explains this association. This cross-sectional study used year-20 follow-up evaluation data of 2,865 eligible participants in the Coronary Artery Risk Development in Young Adults (CARDIA) cohort. Current asthma was self-reported. Oxidant stress primarily was assessed by plasma F2-isoprostane concentrations. Obesity measures included categories of BMI and dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry-assessed fat mass index (FMI) and lean mass index (LMI). Logistic and linear regressions were used for analyses. Asthma was associated with higher plasma F2-isoprostane concentrations (p = 0.049); however, this association was not significant when adjusted for either gender or BMI. The BMI-asthma association was seen only among women (p = 0.03; gender-specific interaction, p = 0.01), and this association was not explained by plasma F2-isoprostane levels. Similarly, both FMI and LMI were positively associated with asthma in women (p = 0.20 and 0.01, respectively). These associations also were not explained by plasma F2-isoprostane levels. Similar results were obtained when plasma levels of oxidized low-density lipoprotein were used instead of F2-isoprostane levels to study the BMI-asthma association at the year-15 evaluation. Systemic oxidant stress, primarily assessed by plasma F2-isoprostane concentrations, was not independently associated with asthma and, therefore, may not explain the obesity-asthma association in women. The asthma-oxidant stress association is confounded by gender and obesity. This study is limited by the inability to measure airway oxidant stress. It is possible that another (as yet undetermined) measure of systemic oxidant stress may be more relevant in asthma.

Exhaled Nitric Oxide in Pregnant Healthy and Asthmatic Women

Measurement of fractioned exhaled nitric oxide (FE(NO)) is useful for monitoring airway inflammation in asthma. Asthma is one of the most common diseases complicating pregnancy, and FE(NO) may be helpful for monitoring asthma in pregnancy. However, some physiological alterations of FE(NO) may be expected during healthy pregnancy due to vascular nitric oxide production. Until now no study assessed the level of FE(NO) in asthmatic pregnant patients.We aimed to assess the possible use and reproducibility of FE(NO) measurements in pregnant asthmatic women. We compared FE(NO) concentrations between four groups of subjects: healthy nonpregnant and pregnant females and asthmatic nonpregnant and pregnant patients. We also investigated the relationship between FE(NO) values and the level of asthma control in pregnant asthmatic patients.A total of 102 female subjects (35 healthy nonpregnant and 27 healthy pregnant females; 20 nonpregnant and 20 pregnant asthmatic women) were included in this cross-sectional study. Two FE(NO) measurements were performed in each subject using an electrochemical sensor based device (NIOX MINO, Aerocrine, Solna, Sweden). Data are given as median with range.The repeatability of FE(NO) measurement was similar in pregnant and nonpregnant subjects. FE(NO) levels did not differ significantly between healthy pregnant versus nonpregnant subjects (16.0 [8, 31] vs. 16.0 [9, 35] ppb). FE(NO) levels were significantly increased in asthmatic women compared to healthy females (nonpregnant asthmatics: 38 [9, 54] ppb, p < 0.001 vs. healthy nonpregnant; pregnant asthmatic patients: 28 [10, 56] ppb; p < 0.05 vs. healthy pregnant).FE(NO) level is not influenced by healthy pregnancy. In pregnant asthmatic patients FE(NO) level is elevated compared to healthy pregnant subjects and correlates with the level of asthma control. Further studies are required to assess the use of FE(NO) measurement to monitor asthma in this patient group.

Increased circulating heat shock protein 70 levels in pregnant asthmatics

Asthma is one of the most common diseases complicating pregnancy and represents a risk factor for several maternal and perinatal complications. The natural history of asthma is known to change in pregnancy, but very few data are available in the terms of pathomechanism of this change during gestation. Circulating heat shock protein 70 (Hsp70) levels are decreased in healthy pregnancy, which might reflect physiological immunotolerance. The aim of our study was to determine the serum levels of Hsp70 in asthmatic women during gestation. Forty pregnant women with bronchial asthma and 40 healthy pregnant women matched for maternal and gestational age were involved in this case-control study. Serum Hsp70 levels were measured using the ELISA Kit of R&D Systems. Spirometry and oxygen saturation measurements were performed in asthmatic patients. In asthmatic pregnant women, an increase of serum Hsp70 levels was observed compared to healthy pregnant women (median (25-75 percentile): 0.44 ng/ml (0.36-0.53) versus 0.21 ng/ml (0-0.27), p < 0.001). Fetal birth weight of asthmatic mothers was significantly smaller than of healthy controls, but in the normal range (3,230 g (2,690-3,550) versus 3,550 g (3,450-3,775), p < 0.05). A statistically significant negative correlation between maternal age and serum Hsp70 concentrations (Spearman R = -0.48, p = 0.0018) and a significant positive correlation between gestational age and serum Hsp70 levels (Spearman R = 0.83, p < 0.001) were detected in healthy pregnant women. In conclusion, this study proves an elevation of circulating Hsp70 levels during asthmatic pregnancy compared to healthy pregnant women. However, further studies are warranted to determine the role of circulating Hsp70 in the pathogenesis of maternal and perinatal complications of asthma in pregnancy.

Surface markers of lymphocyte activation in pregnant asthmatics

ProblemPregnancy-associated immunologic alterations may improve the course of asthma. Severe maternal asthma with an exacerbation impairs fetal growth.Method of studyLymphocyte activation was estimated by flow cytometry analysis of surface markers in non-pregnant healthy and mild or moderate persistent asthmatic women and healthy as well as mild or moderate persistent asthmatic, third trimester pregnant women.ResultsCompared with non-pregnant healthy subjects (n = 12) activated pools within CD4 and CD8 T cells were larger and the number of NK T cells were increased both in non-pregnant asthmatic (n = 12) and in healthy pregnant (n = 13) subjects (all p < 0.05). No further lymphocyte activation was observed in pregnant asthmatics (n = 21) compared either with non-pregnant asthmatic, or pregnant healthy women. Average birth weight of newborns was lower (p < 0.05) in the asthmatic than in the healthy pregnant group.ConclusionPregnancy is a state of wide-spread lymphocyte activation but it may blunt lymphocyte activation which characterizes bronchial asthma.

Effect of maternal asthma, inhaled glucocorticoids and cigarette use during pregnancy on the newborn insulin-like growth factor axis

Background Fetal growth varies in a sex-specific manner in response to maternal asthma during pregnancy, but the mechanisms are unclear. Objective We examined the influence of maternal asthma severity and associated exposures, inhaled glucocorticoid treatment, maternal cigarette use, and fetal sex on fetal growth and placental function during pregnancy and on the newborn insulin-like growth factor (IGF) axis. Study subjects and design Fetal growth was assessed in a prospective cohort of asthmatic and non-asthmatic women ( n = 145). At delivery, umbilical vein plasma was collected from male ( n = 61, controls n = 16 and asthmatic n = 45) or female ( n = 84, controls n = 22 and asthmatic n = 62) fetuses. Cord plasma insulin-like growth factor (IGF) binding protein (BP)-1, IGFBP-3, IGF-1 and IGF-2 were measured by radioimmunoassay and ELISA. Results Cord plasma IGF-1 was the main component of the neonatal IGF axis altered by asthma and cigarette use. IGF-1 was increased in the presence of mild asthma and a male fetus and decreased in the presence of a female fetus and maternal asthma with cigarette use. IGFBP-3 was also decreased in the female fetuses of pregnancies complicated by asthma and cigarette use. Inhaled glucocorticoid use for the treatment of asthma did not affect the IGF axis. The strongest overall predictor of female birth weight after accounting for asthma severity, inhaled glucocorticoid treatment and cigarette use was IGF-1. For males, the strongest predictor of birth weight was IGFBP-3. Conclusion The data suggest male and female fetuses institute different strategies in response to adverse pregnancy conditions such as asthma and cigarette use.

Prevalence, treatment and known risk factors of urinary incontinence and overactive bladder in the non-institutionalized Portuguese population

To quantify the prevalence (previous month) of urinary incontinence (UI) and overactive bladder (OAB), to assess its relation with known risk factors and to characterize UI awareness and treatment. Telephone interviews were conducted in 1,934 Portuguese subjects aged > or =40 years. UI was defined according to the International Continence Society definitions. OAB was assessed through the Overactive Bladder Assessment Tool. The prevalence of UI was 21.4% (95% CI 19.0-23.9) in women, 7.6% (95% CI 4.8-10.4) in men. Diagnosis (ever in life) was reported by 4.5% (95% CI 3.3-5.7) of the participants, from which 73.0% reported to have been treated for UI. OAB was reported by 29.4% (95% CI 26.6-32.2) of women and 35.1% (95% CI 29.6-40.6) of men. Obesity, hysterectomy and asthma in women, and age in men, were significantly associated with the symptoms. UI and OAB prevalences were high, but the proportion of individuals aware of their condition was low, emphasizing the need for better information among physicians and general population.

Leptin, adiponectin, and asthma: findings from a population-based cohort study

Obesity is thought to increase the risk of asthma, especially in women. It has been proposed that this association could be due to the immune-modulating effect of adipokines secreted by adipose tissue. To investigate whether aspects of the asthma phenotype are associated with higher levels of the proinflammatory adipokine leptin and lower levels of the anti-inflammatory adipokine adiponectin in a cross-sectional analysis of a group of young adults. Associations between leptin and adiponectin and a diagnosis of asthma, symptoms of wheeze, bronchodilator response, airflow obstruction, and exhaled nitric oxide were evaluated by logistic or linear regression in a population-based birth cohort of approximately 1,000 men and women aged 32 years. Further analyses adjusted for smoking and body fat. There were no significant associations between leptin and any of the markers of the asthma phenotype in either men or women. In men, higher levels of adiponectin were associated with lower levels of exhaled nitric oxide but an increased risk of bronchodilator responsiveness. The inverse association with exhaled nitric oxide remained significant after adjustment for body fat, but the association with bronchodilator responsiveness did not. Adiponectin levels were not associated with any markers of asthma in women. The inverse association between adiponectin and exhaled nitric oxide in men warrants further investigation. However, the findings indicate that levels of leptin and adiponectin are unlikely to mediate the previously observed association between obesity and asthma.

Atopy, Obesity, and Asthma in Adults: The Humboldt Study

ABSTRACT Obesity appears more strongly associated with asthma in women than in men. It is hypothesized that a stronger linkage of obesity with nonatopic asthma than with atopic asthma may explain the sex difference. That being the case, we might hypothesize a stronger association between obesity and asthma in nonatopic individuals than in atopic ones. In this analysis, we examined the association between obesity and asthma in atopic and nonatopic people separately. A total of 1997 residents aged 18 to 79 years who participated in the 2003–2004 Humboldt study were included in the analysis. Body mass index (BMI) and waist circumference were objectively measured. Allergy skin tests were conducted to determine atopic sensitization. Respiratory allergy and physician diagnosed asthma were self-reported. Overall, 8% reported having asthma, 30% had atopic sensitization as determined by allergy skin tests, 31% reported a history of respiratory allergy, and 35% were obese defined as BMI equal to or larger than 30 kg/m2. Compared to those with a BMI <25 kg/m2, the odds ratio for asthma for the nonatopic subjects of those with a BMI of at least 30.0 kg/m2 was 2.01 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.13, 3.59] after adjustment for sex and age. The association between obesity and asthma was not statistically significant in atopic subjects. The adjusted odds ratios for obesity versus normal weight were 2.56 (95% CI: 1.07, 6.12) and 1.76 (95% CI: 1.04, 3.01) for those without and with a history of respiratory allergy, respectively. The association of asthma with waist circumference was not statistically significant in all the subgroups defined by atopy and respiratory allergy. The data suggested a stronger association between obesity and asthma among nonatopic people than among atopic people.

PRE AND POST MENSTRUAL PEAK FLOW RATES AND SYMPTOMS AMONGST PATIENTS WITH BRONCHIAL ASTHMA

A rapid fall in serum progesterone may be an important factor. The menstrual worsening of symptoms correlates with fall in peak expiratory flow rate which in turn is related to the decreasing serum progesterone levels. Objective measurement of peak flow rate is important to observe the course of bronchial asthma. A study on 58 asthmatic women was undertaken to evaluate the pre and post menstrual variation in peak flow rates. Thirteen patients (23%) reported premenstrual deterioration in their symptoms. The same number reported that their symptoms become better after the cessation of menses. Amongst these 7 (53.8%) patients had to increase their drugs few days before start of menses The mean PEFR in the premenstrual week (morning as well as evening) in the patients with premenstrual symptoms as well as in the patients without premenstrual symptoms was significantly less (p<0.001) than the post menstrual week. Significant difference between pre and post menstrual PEFR in asthma patients signifies the importance of its awareness for therapeutic implications. In a study 3 significantly more Near Fatal asthma episodes were observed on the first day of menstruation than on the remaining days. In another study the perimenstrual asthma group had more severe disease, worsened disease control and more aggressive management including increased oral corticosteroid than the non-perimenstrual asthma group. 4 Since progesterone causes smooth muscle relaxation throughout the whole body including the muscles of airways,

Mite sensitization among Latina women in New York, where dust-mite allergen levels are typically low

In New York (NY), Latinos often have greater asthma morbidity than other ethnicities, and dust-mite sensitization is common despite low allergen levels. We investigated mite allergen exposure and sensitization in atopic and/or asthmatic women, the majority being Puerto Rican. Women (n = 274) recruited for a birth cohort study were visited postnatally. Dust from their homes was analyzed for mite allergens (Der f 1, Der p 1, and Blo t 5). Serum was analyzed for total and allergen-specific IgE. Thirty-seven percent were sensitized to Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus, 34% to Dermatophagoides farinae, and 21% to Blomia tropicalis. Only 5% of NY homes had levels of Der f 1 >2 microg/g; none had Blo t 5 or Der p 1 above this level. Caribbean or Latin American birthplace (a proxy for childhood exposure) was not associated with mite sensitization. Sensitization to D. pteronyssinus and D. farinae was associated with a report of doctor-diagnosed asthma [Odds ratio (OR) = 3.27, P = 0.003; OR = 2.81, P = 0.010, respectively]; sensitization to any mite was associated with asthma medication use in the past 12 months (OR = 3.12, P = 0.004). These associations held even after adjustment for cockroach, mouse, and cat sensitization. Despite the low concentrations of mite allergen in our community, many of the women in the atopically enriched cohort were sensitized to mites, even Blomia tropicalis which is typically found only in tropical environments.

Asthma exacerbations during the first trimester of pregnancy and the risk of congenital malformations among asthmatic women

Asthma exacerbations during the first trimester of pregnancy and the risk of congenital malformations among asthmatic women

Exhaled Nitric Oxide in Pregnant Healthy and Asthmatic Women

Background. Measurement of fractioned exhaled nitric oxide (FENO) is useful for monitoring airway inflammation in asthma. Asthma is one of the most common diseases complicating pregnancy, and FENO may be helpful for monitoring asthma in pregnancy. However, some physiological alterations of FENO may be expected during healthy pregnancy due to vascular nitric oxide production. Until now no study assessed the level of FENO in asthmatic pregnant patients. Objective. We aimed to assess the possible use and reproducibility of FENO measurements in pregnant asthmatic women. We compared FENO concentrations between four groups of subjects: healthy nonpregnant and pregnant females and asthmatic nonpregnant and pregnant patients. We also investigated the relationship between FENO values and the level of asthma control in pregnant asthmatic patients. Methods. A total of 102 female subjects (35 healthy nonpregnant and 27 healthy pregnant females; 20 nonpregnant and 20 pregnant asthmatic women) were included in this cross-sectional study. Two FENO measurements were performed in each subject using an electrochemical sensor based device (NIOX MINO, Aerocrine, Solna, Sweden). Data are given as median with range. Results. The repeatability of FENO measurement was similar in pregnant and nonpregnant subjects. FENO levels did not differ significantly between healthy pregnant versus nonpregnant subjects (16.0 [8, 31] vs. 16.0 [9, 35] ppb). FENO levels were significantly increased in asthmatic women compared to healthy females (nonpregnant asthmatics: 38 [9, 54] ppb, p < 0.001 vs. healthy nonpregnant; pregnant asthmatic patients: 28 [10, 56] ppb; p < 0.05 vs. healthy pregnant). Conclusions. FENO level is not influenced by healthy pregnancy. In pregnant asthmatic patients FENO level is elevated compared to healthy pregnant subjects and correlates with the level of asthma control. Further studies are required to assess the use of FENO measurement to monitor asthma in this patient group.

Asthma exacerbations during the first trimester of pregnancy and the risk of congenital malformations among asthmatic women

Asthma exacerbations during the first trimester of pregnancy and the risk of congenital malformations among asthmatic women

Prospective Study of Inhaled Corticosteroid Use, Cardiovascular Mortality, and All-Cause Mortality in Asthmatic Women

Prospective Study of Inhaled Corticosteroid Use, Cardiovascular Mortality, and All-Cause Mortality in Asthmatic Women

Evaluation of cleaning activities on respiratory symptoms in asthmatic female homemakers

Asthma among professional cleaners is recognized as a common cause of new-onset and aggravated occupational asthma. Women are usually the primary persons responsible for cleaning their homes, but little information is available regarding the health impact of cleaning in the nonoccupational setting. To compare health effects of cleaning among asthmatic and nonasthmatic women who are the primary cleaners in their homes. A 12-week, prospective, parallel-group study assessing the effects of cleaning on peak expiratory flow rates and upper and lower respiratory tract symptoms in women with and without asthma. Twenty-five women with asthma and 19 without asthma, ages 18 to 65 years, completed the study. No effect was observed on peak expiratory flow rates after cleaning between groups. Upper respiratory tract symptoms increased after cleaning for both groups, adjusted for chemical severity exposure index and duration of cleaning. However, the change in the number of lower respiratory tract symptoms (after cleaning minus before cleaning) was statistically significant for asthmatic patients compared with nonasthmatic patients (P = .01). The study suggests that cleaning activities are associated with increased lower respiratory tract symptoms in asthmatic patients independent of chemical severity exposure index and cleaning duration. Women with asthma should be routinely interviewed as to whether they clean their home and cautioned about the potential respiratory health effects of these activities.

Prospective Study of Inhaled Corticosteroid Use, Cardiovascular Mortality, and All-Cause Mortality in Asthmatic Women

Therapy with inhaled corticosteroids (ICSs) decreases the risk of asthma exacerbations. Recent studies have suggested that ICS therapy also may decrease the risk of cardiovascular disease, and perhaps of all-cause mortality. We examined this hypothesis in a large, well-characterized cohort of asthmatic women. In 1976, the Nurses' Health Study enrolled 121,700 registered nurses, who were 30 to 55 years of age. Participants were asked about "physician-diagnosed asthma" on biennial questionnaires. In 1998, asthmatic participants were sent a supplementary questionnaire on asthma diagnosis and management, including ICS use. Mortality was assessed through 2003, without knowledge of the 1998 (baseline) ICS status. The odds ratios (ORs) for death were adjusted for age, asthma severity, smoking, heart disease, cancer, stroke, aspirin, and statin use. Among 2,671 eligible women (ie, those who responded to the 1998 supplement [85%], met criteria for persistent asthma, and had not received a prior diagnosis of COPD), 54% reported ICS use. Over the next 5 years, 87 women (3.3%) died (cardiovascular deaths, 22; cancer deaths, 31; other, 34 [including 4 from asthma]). Compared to asthmatic women who did not use ICSs, those receiving therapy with ICSs had lower all-cause mortality (OR, 0.58; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.36 to 0.92). ICS users were at significantly lower risk of cardiovascular death (OR, 0.35; 95% CI, 0.13 to 0.93), but not of death from cancer (OR, 0.66; 95% CI, 0.32 to 1.38) or other causes (OR, 0.62; 95% CI, 0.30 to 1.27). ICS use was associated with significantly lower cardiovascular and all-cause mortality in women with asthma. These observational data suggest that ICSs may indeed have antiinflammatory benefits beyond the airway, which is a possibility that merits further study.

Effect of fetal gender on maternal asthma exacerbations in pregnant asthmatic women

Recent studies have found that asthmatic women pregnant with a female fetus reported more symptoms and had slightly lower lung function than women pregnant with a male fetus. In order to further investigate this association, we studied the effect of fetal sex on maternal asthma exacerbations and the use of asthma medications during pregnancy. A large cohort of pregnant asthmatic women and their babies was reconstructed between 1990 and 2002 from the linkage of three administrative databases of the Canadian province of Quebec. Asthma exacerbations were defined as a filled prescription of oral corticosteroids, an emergency department visit, or a hospitalization for asthma. Women pregnant with a female fetus were compared to women with a male fetus with respect to their rate of asthma exacerbation, their weekly doses of inhaled short-acting beta(2)-agonists (SABA), and their daily dose of inhaled corticosteroids (ICS) during pregnancy. Logistic and linear regression models were used to obtain effect measures adjusted for several potential confounders such as asthma severity and control prior to pregnancy. The cohort included 5529 pregnancies with a single female fetus and 5728 pregnancies with a single male fetus. No significant differences were found between mothers of a female and male fetus as to the occurrence of asthma exacerbations (adjusted rate ratio=1.02; 95% CI: 0.92-1.14), the daily dose of ICS (adjusted mean difference (AMD): 2.46 microg; 95% CI: -4.01 to 8.93), and the weekly dose of SABA (AMD: 0.004 dose; 95% CI: -0.23 to 0.24). Based on the results, we conclude that fetal gender is unlikely to affect maternal asthma during pregnancy to the point where acute care and medications are more often required among women pregnant with a female fetus.

Asthma control during pregnancy and the risk of preterm delivery or impaired fetal growth

Concerns regarding potential harmful effect of medications on fetuses often result in inadequate treatment of asthma in pregnancy, whereas risks posed by poorly controlled maternal asthma are often underestimated. To evaluate the effect of maternal asthma on preterm delivery and fetal growth. Study participants were individuals enrolled in the Organization of Teratology Information Specialists Asthma Medications in Pregnancy Study between February 1, 1998, and December 31, 2003. Pregnant women with physician-diagnosed asthma (n = 719) evaluated their asthma control repeatedly during pregnancy based on symptom frequency and interference with daily activities and sleep and reported hospitalizations and unscheduled clinic visits for asthma exacerbations. The incidence of preterm delivery, the incidence of intrauterine growth restriction, and mean birth weight were evaluated relative to asthma symptom control and exacerbation measures. The incidence of preterm delivery was significantly higher among patients with inadequate asthma symptom control during the first part of pregnancy (11.4%) compared with patients with adequate asthma control (6.3%; P = .02). Similarly, patients who were hospitalized for asthma during pregnancy had a higher incidence of preterm delivery (16.4%) compared with asthmatic women without a history of hospitalization (7.6%; P = .02). The effect seemed independent from use of systemic corticosteroids and other covariates. Neither the incidence of intrauterine growth restriction nor mean birth weight varied by any measures of asthma symptom control or exacerbations. This study demonstrates a substantial risk for preterm delivery posed by poorly controlled maternal asthma and provides additional evidence regarding the importance of adequate treatment of asthma in pregnancy to maintain optimal asthma control.

Maternal and cord plasma cytokine and chemokine profile in pregnancies complicated by asthma

The mechanisms contributing to worsening of asthma during pregnancy have not been well characterized. Both asthma and pregnancy are conditions associated with a skewing of the immune response from T helper (Th) 1 toward a Th2 response. We hypothesise that worsening of asthma during pregnancy may be due to an enhanced production of circulating proinflammatory cytokines and chemokines and this may be modified by the use of inhaled glucocorticoid treatment. Peripheral blood was collected from asthmatic (n=35) and control non-asthmatic patients (n=13) in the third trimester (30–37 weeks) of pregnancy. Fetal blood was collected from the umbilical vein of the placenta after delivery from normal (n=24) and pregnancies complicated by asthma (n=24). Plasma samples were assayed for IL-6, -8, eotaxin and RANTES using conventional ELISA. In addition, a range of Th1 and Th2 cytokines measured using Luminex system. There were no significant differences in the levels of maternal IL-6, IL-8, eotaxin and RANTES between asthmatics and nonasthmatics. The results of this study suggest that the presence of asthma does not result in an enhanced circulation of Th2 related cytokines and chemokines during the third trimester of pregnancy. Furthermore peripheral blood cytokine concentrations appear unaffected by inhaled glucocorticoid treatment. Cord plasma eotaxin concentrations were increased in pregnancies complicated by asthma, compared with control. This is the first study to show increased eotaxin production in the feto-placental unit of asthmatic pregnancies and may be one mechanism by which allergy susceptibility is increased in the offspring of asthmatic women.