LAUSR

* Abbreviations: CI — : confidence interval GERD — : gastroesophageal reflux disease PPI — : proton pump inhibitor Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is the most common medical complaint in pregnancy, manifesting as heartburn and regurgitation. GERD occurs in 25% to 80% of women, with the prevalence varying according to definition and nationality.1–3 Initial management involves lifestyle changes and/or antacids, followed by a standard treatment of acid-suppressive medications such as histamine-2 receptor antagonists and proton pump inhibitors (PPIs).1 Maternal use of PPIs in pregnancy has been shown to be safe in relation to birth defects, spontaneous abortions, and preterm delivery.4,5 However, there is a growing number of epidemiologic studies to suggest that maternal use of acid-suppressive medications in pregnancy is associated with an increased risk of asthma in the offspring. In the current edition of Pediatrics , Lai et al6 have published a meta-analysis of 8 such studies, concluding that there is a risk of children developing asthma with prenatal exposure to PPIs (odds ratio: 1.34; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.18–1.52) and histamine-2 receptor antagonists (odds ratio: 1.57; 95% CI: 1.46–1.69). To explore this further, it is interesting to first ask the following question: why study prenatal acid-suppressive medication exposure and asthma in offspring? There are several … Address correspondence to Bronwyn K. Brew, PhD, Department of Medical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Karolinska Institutet, Nobels vag 12a, Stockholm 17177, Sweden. E-mail: bronwyn.haasdyk.brew{at}ki.se