Tegethoff, M: Fetal origins of pediatric disease

Improving child health worldwide is a core public health objective,
identifying the risk factors of child disease an important research priority.
This book presents a series of five human studies unraveling two common
risk factors that operate as early as during intrauterine life: stress during
pregnancy and synthetic glucocorticoids commonly used in reproductive
medicine. The findings provide evidence that stress during pregnancy
predicts placental and fetal growth, and is associated with an increased
disease risk in the offspring during childhood. They further suggest that
therapy with synthetic glucocorticoids during pregnancy may result in
disturbed endocrinology throughout offspring childhood. A framework
introduces the reader into the public health perspective and scientific
background of the work, and guides the integration of the presented
findings by a concluding comprehensive discussion with regard to
implications for future research, clinical practice and policy. The findings
contribute to a better understanding of the fetal origins of pediatric disease.