This is the current release of the guideline.

Asthma in pregnancy

Pregnant women with asthma

Evaluation and Diagnosis

1. Subjective assessment
   • Physical examination
   • History of symptoms, temporal relationships, triggers
   • Pulmonary impairment: asthma severity classification
   • Response to asthma therapy
2. Pulmonary function tests
   • Spirometry: and forced expiratory volume in the first second of expiration (FEV₁)
   • Peak expiratory flow rate (PEFR)
3. Fetal assessment during acute asthma

Management and Treatment

1. Allergen immunotherapy (allergy shots) during pregnancy (considered but not recommended unless patient is at or near maintenance dose)
2. Pharmacologic approaches
   • Inhaled short-acting beta₂-agonist (albuterol) as rescue therapy
   • Inhaled corticosteroids (budesonide) as long-term controller therapy
   • Alternative add-on medications (long-acting beta₂-agonists, cromolyn, leukotriene antagonist, theophylline)
3. Step therapy medical management of asthma
4. Emphasizing asthma self-management skills
5. Nonpharmacologic approaches
   • Identifying and controlling or avoiding allergens and irritants
6. Discharge regimen
7. Fetal surveillance
   • Ultrasound
   • Antenatal fetal testing
8. Counseling about breastfeeding

The MEDLINE database, the Cochrane Library, and the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists' own internal resources and documents were used to conduct a literature search to locate relevant articles published between January 1985 and March 2007. The search was restricted to articles published in the English language. Priority was given to articles reporting results of original research, although review articles and commentaries also were consulted. Abstracts of research presented at symposia and scientific conferences were not considered adequate for inclusion in this document. Guidelines published by organizations or institutions such as the National Institutes of Health and the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists were reviewed, and additional studies were located by reviewing bibliographies of identified articles.

Not stated

Studies were reviewed and evaluated for quality according to the method outlined by the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force:

I Evidence obtained from at least one properly designed randomized controlled trial.

II-1 Evidence obtained from well-designed controlled trials without randomization.

II-2 Evidence obtained from well-designed cohort or case–control analytic studies, preferably from more than one center or research group.

II-3 Evidence obtained from multiple time series with or without the intervention. Dramatic results in uncontrolled experiments also could be regarded as this type of evidence.

III Opinions of respected authorities, based on clinical experience, descriptive studies, or reports of expert committees.

Not stated

Analysis of available evidence was given priority in formulating recommendations. When reliable research was not available, expert opinions from obstetrician–gynecologists were used. See also the "Rating Scheme for the Strength of Recommendations" field regarding Grade C recommendations.

Based on the highest level of evidence found in the data, recommendations are provided and graded according to the following categories:

Level A — Recommendations are based on good and consistent scientific evidence.

Level B — Recommendations are based on limited or inconsistent scientific evidence.

Level C — Recommendations are based primarily on consensus and expert opinion.

A formal cost analysis was not performed and published cost analyses were not reviewed.

Practice Bulletins are validated by two internal clinical review panels composed of practicing obstetrician-gynecologists generalists and sub-specialists. The final guidelines are also reviewed and approved by the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) Executive Board.

The grades of evidence (I-III) and levels of recommendations (A-C) are defined at the end of "Major Recommendations" field.

The following recommendations and conclusions are based on limited or inconsistent scientific evidence (Level B):

• It is safer for pregnant women with asthma to be treated with asthma medications than it is for them to have asthma symptoms and exacerbations.
• Clinical evaluation of asthma includes subjective assessments and pulmonary function tests.
• The ultimate goal of asthma therapy in pregnancy is maintaining adequate oxygenation of the fetus by preventing hypoxic episodes in the mother.
• The step-care therapeutic approach (see box below) increases the number and dosage of medications with increasing asthma severity.
• Inhaled corticosteroids are first-line controller therapy for persistent asthma during pregnancy.
• Budesonide is the preferred inhaled corticosteroid for use during pregnancy.
• Inhaled albuterol is recommended rescue therapy for pregnant women with asthma.
• Identifying and controlling or avoiding factors such as allergens and irritants, particularly tobacco smoke, can lead to improved maternal well-being with less need for medication.
• Continuation of immunotherapy is recommended in patients who are at or near a maintenance dose, not experiencing adverse reactions to the injections, and apparently deriving clinical benefit.
• Use of prednisone, theophylline, antihistamines, inhaled corticosteroids, beta₂-agonists, and cromolyn is not contraindicated for breastfeeding.

The following recommendations and conclusions are based primarily on consensus and expert opinion (Level C):

• Asthma self-management skills, including self-monitoring, correct use of inhalers, and following a plan for long-term management of asthma and promptly handling signs of worsening asthma, enhance asthma control.
• For pulmonary function assessment of patients during outpatient visits, spirometry is preferable, but peak expiratory flow measurement with a peak flow meter also is sufficient.
• Ultrasound examinations and antenatal fetal testing should be considered for women who have moderate or severe asthma during pregnancy.
• Pregnant patients with asthma, even those with mild or well-controlled disease, need to be monitored with peak expiratory flow rate (PEFR) and forced expiratory volume in the first second of expiration (FEV₁) testing as well as by observing their symptoms during pregnancy.
• Routine evaluation of pulmonary function in pregnant women with persistent asthma is recommended.
• Because pulmonary function and asthma severity may change during the course of pregnancy, routine evaluation of pulmonary function in pregnant women with persistent asthma is recommended.

Definitions:

Grades of Evidence

I Evidence obtained from at least one properly designed randomized controlled trial.

II-1 Evidence obtained from well-designed controlled trials without randomization.

II-2 Evidence obtained from well-designed cohort or case–control analytic studies, preferably from more than one center or research group.

II-3 Evidence obtained from multiple time series with or without the intervention. Dramatic results in uncontrolled experiments also could be regarded as this type of evidence.

III Opinions of respected authorities, based on clinical experience, descriptive studies, or reports of expert committees.

Levels of Recommendation

Level A — Recommendations are based on good and consistent scientific evidence.

Level B — Recommendations are based on limited or inconsistent scientific evidence.

Level C — Recommendations are based primarily on consensus and expert opinion.

None provided

The type of supporting evidence is identified and graded for each recommendation (see "Major Recommendations").

Appropriate management of asthma during pregnancy

Drug side effects

Risk-benefit considerations do not usually favor beginning allergen immunotherapy during pregnancy.

These guidelines should not be construed as dictating an exclusive course of treatment or procedure. Variations in practice may be warranted based on the needs of the individual patient, resources, and limitations unique to the institution or type of practice.

An implementation strategy was not provided.

Not applicable: The guideline was not adapted from another source.

American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG)

American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) Committee on Practice Bulletins - Obstetrics

Not stated

Not stated

This is the current release of the guideline.

Electronic copies: None available

Print copies: Available for purchase from the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) Distribution Center, PO Box 933104, Atlanta, GA 31193-3104; telephone, 800-762-2264, ext. 192; e-mail: sales@acog.org. The ACOG Bookstore is available online at the ACOG Web site .

Proposed performance measures are included in the original guideline document.

None available

This NGC summary was completed by ECRI Institute on July 30, 2008. The information was verified by the guideline developer on August 20, 2008. This summary was updated by ECRI Institute on May 14, 2010 following the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) advisory on Long-Acting Beta-Agonists (LABAs).

This NGC summary is based on the original guideline, which is subject to the guideline developer's copyright restrictions.