Perinatal outcome and long-term infectious hospitalizations of offspring born to women with known drug allergy

Problem: Maternal drug allergy has been associated with altered immune status and an inflammatory environment, which may affect the risk of future infectious diseases in the offspring. Objectives: We aimed to evaluate perinatal outcomes and long-term infectious hospitalization in the offspring of women with documented drug allergy. Method of study: The study was conducted at the Soroka University Medical Center (SUMC), a tertiary medical center. For perinatal outcomes, generalized estimation equation (GEE) models were used controlling for maternal age, maternal diabetes mellitus, smoking, and hypertensive disorders. The study groups were followed until 18 years of age for infectious-related hospitalizations. A Kaplan–Meier survival curve was used to compare the cumulative incidence of long-term infectious hospitalizations. A Cox proportional hazards model was conducted to control for confounders. Results: During the study period, 243 682 deliveries met the inclusion criteria, of which 9756 (4.0%) occurred in women with documented drug allergy. Using GEE, maternal drug allergy was found to be a significant independent risk factor for hypertensive disorders, diabetes mellitus, intra-uterine growth restriction (IUGR), and preterm delivery. Offspring also had significantly higher rates of long-term infectious hospitalizations. Kaplan–Meier survival curves demonstrated significantly higher cumulative incidence rates of infectious hospitalization (log-rank p <.001). In a Cox proportional hazards model, being born to a mother with documented drug allergy was independently associated with infectious hospitalization of the offspring in the long term. Conclusions: Maternal documented drug allergy is independently associated with an adverse perinatal outcome such as IUGR and preterm delivery and increased risk of long-term infectious hospitalization of the offspring.