Journal list menu

Relationships between maternal illness during pregnancy and cancer risk in offspring have been investigated for decades, with inconsistent results. Here, the authors reviewed medical records to examine relationships between maternal illness in pregnancy and several types of childhood cancer. Analyses reveal associations between maternal anaemia in pregnancy and childhood acute myeloid leukaemia and certain embryonal tumours. No evidence was found, however, linking maternal infections to increased risk of childhood cancer, with the exception of non-Hodgkin lymphoma. The findings warrant additional exploration of the impact of maternal anaemia, iron and vitamin deficiency in pregnancy on the pathogenesis of childhood leukaemia and embryonal tumours.

What's new?

In high-income countries in Europe, childhood cancer survival is suspected of being linked to socioeconomic status, despite mandates for equal access to healthcare. Little is known, however, about the impact of socioeconomic differences on early mortality in settings with universal healthcare. This study analyzed mortality following childhood cancer diagnosis in Sweden and Denmark. Early mortality was associated with socioeconomic status, wherein socially disadvantaged groups were at increased risk of death within three months of diagnosis. This was most clearly seen for maternal income and education. The relevance of socioeconomic differences on timing of childhood cancer diagnosis and survival warrants further investigation.