Asthma Archives - Revista Brasileira de Ginecologia e Obstetrícia

Purpose: to study perinatal outcome in asthmatic pregnant patients who required hospital admission to control acute exacerbations. Patients and Method: retrospective study of 12 pregnant asthmatic patients admitted at the Hospital das Clínicas, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, FMRP-USP, during the period between 1992 and 1996. The analyzed data included: maternal age, prenatal care, length of hospitalization, gestational age at delivery, type of delivery, neonatal weight and Apgar score. Results: among the 12 asthmatic pregnant patients 7 did not have prenatal care for acute exacerbation treatment before hospitalization. Three of 12 developed preeclampsia (one with premature rupture of membranes and infection of the amniotic cavity and one with premature separation of the placenta); 2 of 12 were diagnosed with premature placental aging (one with premature labor and twin-to-twin transfusion syndrome and one with oligohydramnios); 1 of 12 was diagnosed with oligohydramnios and fetal death and had pneumonia, and 1 of 12 was diagnosed with polyhydramnios. Among the infants, 3 were small for gestational age. Conclusions: perinatal complications were more frequent in asthmatic pregnant patients who required hospital care for the acute exacerbations. Chronic asthmatic patients in reproductive age should be advised before pregnancy about the prophylactic measures to reduce the incidence of acute crises and exacerbations during pregnancy should be treated promptly.