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Article: Maternal asthma may cut growth in female fetuses: immune system effects.(Obstetrics)
- Article from:
- OB GYN News
- Article date:
- January 1, 2004
- Author:
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 2004 International Medical News Group. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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Female fetuses may adversely affect maternal asthma, which could result in impaired placental function and reduced fetal growth, Australian investigators reported.
A fetal sex-specific effect on the maternal immune system was observed in a study of 180 pregnant women, including 138 with asthma. Among the women with asthma who did not use inhaled steroids and were pregnant with a female fetus, birth weights were significantly reduced, while male birth weights were unaffected, Vicki L. Clifton, Ph.D., of John Hunter Hospital in Newcastle, Australia, and coinvestigators reported.
The presence of a female fetus was associated with significantly increased ...