Asthma: How Best to Treat When the Patient Is Pregnant?

Document Type

Review

Publication Date

6-1-1999

Description

Severity of asthma before pregnancy is an unreliable predictor of the disease's course during pregnancy. If increased bronchospasm occurs, it tends to do so between weeks 29 and 36 of the pregnancy. Suboptimal control of asthma endangers both the pregnant woman and her fetus. To control asthma, first focus on attenuating bronchial inflammation. Inhaled corticosteroids are the cornerstone of such treatment. If oral corticosteroid therapy becomes necessary, prednisone and prednisolone are the agents of choice. Other agents, such as cromolyn and theophylline, can also be beneficial if drug levels in the blood are monitored properly.

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