ORIGINAL ARTICLE: Pre‐Eclampsia, Placental Abruption and Increased Risk of Atopic Sensitization in Male Adolescent Offspring

PROBLEM: The aim of this study was to investigate maternal pre-eclampsia (PE), placental abruption (PA) and atopy among offspring. METHOD OF STUDY: Obstetric data was recorded from 378 women who were included into the Caesarean delivery birth cohort during 1990-1992. When their children were 15-17 years old skin prick tests (SPTs) and inhalant allergen-specific (IAS) immunoglobulin E (IgE) were determined among offspring. RESULTS: Adolescents whose mothers had either PE or PA at the time of delivery had more atopy and especially more severe atopy as measured by the incidence of SPTs positive for > or = 5 allergens (RR: 4.28, 95% CI: 1.54-11.92; P < 0.005) and elevated IAS IgE levels (> or = 1.0 kU/L) (RR: 4.27, 95% CI: 1.08-16.99; P < 0.039). This increased risk was particularly observed in male adolescents. CONCLUSION: Maternal PE and PA were associated with an increased risk of severe atopy, especially in male adolescent offspring.