Pre-eclampsia, placental abruption and increased risk of atopic sensitization in male adolescent offspring.

PROBLEM: The aim of this study was to investigate maternal pre-eclampsia (PE), placental abruption (PA) and atopy among offspring.

METHOD OF STUDY: Obstetric data was recorded from 378 women who were included into the Caesarean delivery birth cohort during 1990-1992. When their children were 15-17 years old skin prick tests (SPTs) and inhalant allergen-specific (IAS) immunoglobulin E (IgE) were determined among offspring.

RESULTS

Adolescents whose mothers had either PE or PA at the time of delivery had more atopy and especially more severe atopy as measured by the incidence of SPTs positive for > or = 5 allergens (RR: 4.28, 95% CI: 1.54-11.92; P < 0.005) and elevated IAS IgE levels (> or = 1.0 kU/L) (RR: 4.27, 95% CI: 1.08-16.99; P < 0.039). This increased risk was particularly observed in male adolescents.

CONCLUSION

Maternal PE and PA were associated with an increased risk of severe atopy, especially in male adolescent offspring.