Wjst M, Dold S
GSF National Research Center for Environment and Health, Oberschleissheim, Germany.
Pediatr Allergy Immunol. 1997 Nov;8(4):200-4. doi: 10.1111/j.1399-3038.1997.tb00161.x.
The prevalence of pediatric asthma has increased in many parts of the world. This increase started more than 30 years ago and is particularly obvious in studies which document the onset of asthma in native populations when they change to a "Western" lifestyle. Besides a genetic influence, numerous environmental factors have been described for the development of asthma. Genetic factors are unlikely to explain the sharp increase within the short time period and also allergen and pollution exposure or any specific infection does not actually seem to be the main cause for this phenomenon. Another factor, however, that fits well into the geographical and temporal background of the asthma epidemic is the mother's oral contraceptive use. We therefore review the epidemiological association with later asthma in the children, give a summary of estrogen effects on immune function and develop a preliminary theory how oral contraception could influence later pregnancy.
小儿哮喘的患病率在世界许多地区都有所上升。这种上升始于30多年前，在记录本土人群转变为“西方”生活方式时哮喘发病情况的研究中尤为明显。除了遗传影响外，已有众多环境因素被描述与哮喘的发生发展有关。遗传因素不太可能解释在短时间内的急剧上升，而且过敏原暴露、污染暴露或任何特定感染似乎实际上都不是这一现象的主要原因。然而，另一个与哮喘流行的地理和时间背景相契合的因素是母亲使用口服避孕药。因此，我们回顾了与儿童日后患哮喘的流行病学关联，总结了雌激素对免疫功能的影响，并提出了一个关于口服避孕药如何影响日后妊娠的初步理论。
