RESUMEN
PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Asthma remains the most common respiratory disease in pregnancy. Identifying risk factors for asthma exacerbations during pregnancy is critical, as uncontrolled asthma can have detrimental effects for both mother and baby. In this review, we discuss recent literature exploring risk factors, fetal and maternal effects, and treatment options for asthma during pregnancy. RECENT FINDINGS: Recent literature suggests that optimizing asthma during pregnancy improves outcomes for both mother and baby, as well as later in childhood. Current research affirms that the benefit of asthma medication use outweighs any potential risks related to the medications themselves. Limited information is available regarding the use of newer therapies such as biologics during pregnancy. SUMMARY: Identifying risk factors for asthma exacerbations during pregnancy is critical to prevent adverse outcomes for both mother and baby. Recent evidence continues to affirm the safety of asthma medication use; more studies are needed regarding the use of new therapies during pregnancy.
Asunto(s)
Asma , Complicaciones del Embarazo , Embarazo , Femenino , Humanos , Complicaciones del Embarazo/tratamiento farmacológico , Asma/tratamiento farmacológico , Resultado del EmbarazoRESUMEN
Background: The use of biologic agents for severe asthma has transformed management, decreasing asthma exacerbations, improving lung function, reducing corticosteroid use, and decreasing hospitalizations. However, numerous financial and logistic barriers have complicated the implementation of biologic agents, including long wait times to see specialists and insurance coverage. Observations: A retrospective chart review was performed for 15 patients enrolled in this severe allergy clinic at the Washington DC Veterans Affairs Medical Center over 30 months. Outcomes examined included emergency department visits, hospitalizations, intensive care unit (ICU) stays, forced expiratory volume (FEV1), and steroid use. The average use of steroids decreased from 4.2 to 0.6 tapers per year following the initiation of biologics. There was an average 10% improvement in FEV1 after starting a biologic. Thirteen percent of patients (n = 2) had an emergency department visit for an asthma exacerbation since starting a biologic agent, 0.6% of patients (n = 1) had a hospital admission for an asthma exacerbation, and no patients had an ICU stay. Conclusions: Biologic agents have significantly improved outcomes for patients with severe asthma. The model of a combined allergy/pulmonology clinic can be particularly efficacious in the treatment of severe asthma, as it reduces the need for multiple appointments with different specialties, reduces wait time before starting a biologic agent, and offers the perspective of 2 specialists.