The article discusses the importance of maintaining asthma treatment during pregnancy, despite the common practice of reducing or stopping medication. Pregnancy can lead to asthma instability and increased risk of exacerbations due to mechanical, hormonal, and immunological changes. However, poorly controlled asthma can result in complications for the mother and fetus, such as low birth weight, preterm birth, and increased risk of gestational diabetes and preeclampsia.
The article highlights that a significant proportion of pregnant women stop their asthma maintenance therapy upon discovering their pregnancy, and physicians often opt for therapeutic de-escalation, which is usually insufficient for optimal asthma control. This is despite the fact that the benefits of active asthma treatment during pregnancy far outweigh the risks of usual asthma medications.
The article emphasizes the importance of continuing prescribed medications, including biologics for severe asthma, and adjusting the dosage of inhaled corticosteroids as needed. It also discusses the reluctance of physicians to administer optimal treatment during asthma exacerbations in pregnant women, due to concerns about the effects of bronchodilators and systemic corticosteroids, which can lead to less effective treatment.
The article also mentions the issue of labeling of teratogenic or fetotoxic drugs in France, where manufacturers are required to display a pictogram on the label indicating the danger for pregnant women or the fetus, which can complicate prescriptions for pregnant asthmatic women.
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by Nathalie at www.medscape.com 06-20-2024
https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/asthma-treatment-during-pregnancy-stay-course-2024a1000bh9Deeper Inquiries