Obstetric assistance Asthma and ADHD: the possible role of maternal stress during pregnancy in the concomitant development of these pathologies

Journal title PNEI REVIEW
Author/s Ornella Righi
Publishing Year 2019 Issue 2019/2
Language Italian Pages 14 P. 18-31 File size 139 KB
DOI 10.3280/PNEI2019-002003
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ADHD and asthma are conditions prevalent in childhood, with a complex pathophysiology involving genetic-environmental interaction. The goal of this article is to explore the factors that can increase the risk of developing asthma in children with ADHD. Babies born prematurely and/or those whose mothers have experienced stress during pregnancy, have a greater risk of developing asthma in conjunction with ADHD, demonstrating how prenatal stress could affect multiple physiopathological circuits. In this process hypothalamic- pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis activation and inflammatory cytokines mediation are involved, which can determine morphological and functional changes of the brain, and immune alterations that predispose to atopy.

Keywords: Maternal stress, Pregnancy, ADHD, Asthma, Childhood, Inflammatory cytokines.

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Ornella Righi, Asma e ADHD: il possibile ruolo dello stress materno in gravidanza nello sviluppo concomitante di queste patologie in "PNEI REVIEW" 2/2019, pp 18-31, DOI: 10.3280/PNEI2019-002003