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12048 2013;15:2415
The Obstetrician & Gynaecologist
Review
http://onlinetog.org
Asthma in pregnancy
a,b c,
Michelle H Goldie RM, Chris E Brightling PhD FRCP *
a
Honorary Research Associate, Institute for Lung Health, Department of Infection, Immunity & Inflammation, Clinical Sciences Wing, University
Hospitals of Leicester, Leicester LE3 9QP, UK
b
Former Specialist Midwife, Leicester Royal Infirmary, Leicester LE1 5WW, UK
c
Professor of Respiratory Medicine & Honorary Consultant Physician, Institute for Lung Health, Department of Infection, Immunity &
Inflammation, Clinical Sciences Wing, University Hospitals of Leicester, Leicester LE3 9QP, UK
*Correspondence: Professor Chris E Brightling. Email: ceb17@le.ac.uk
Please cite this paper as: Goldie MH, Brightling CE. Asthma in pregnancy. The Obstetrician & Gynaecologist 2013;15:2415.
Figure 1. Guidelines from British Thoracic Society/Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network for asthma treatment steps. SR=slow releasing; BDP
= beclomethasone dipropionate equivalent. Reprinted from BTS/SIGN British Guideline on the Management of Asthma, 2008, revised 2012 with
permission from The British Thoracic Society
Taken together these data do support the view that asthma asthma treatment step 3 or above (Figure 1) need to be
severity and poor asthma control are associated with adverse managed by both a respiratory physician and obstetrician to
outcomes in pregnancy, although it is important to note that optimise asthma control.
in most women with well-controlled asthma there are no or
minimal additional risks. Box 4. Pregnancy issues