Planned C-sections increase the risk of certain childhood cancers

Children born by planned C-section increase the risk of developing acute lymphoblastic leukemia (all) later in life. It is shown by a study conducted by researchers at the Karolinska Institute. Researchers emphasize that the risk is low.

the study, Published In International Journal of CancerAbout 2.5 million children born in Sweden from 1982 to 1989 and 1999 to 2015 have been included. Of these, 15.5% were born C-section, i.e., by about 376,000 children. In the entire group, 1,495 children later developed leukemia.

Using the Medical Birth Register, researchers were able to divide the C-section and divide the emergency cesarean section. Later children developing leukemia were overrecentant in a group born by planned C-section. In particular, the risk of the most common form of childhood leukemia, Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (All), increased. The risk of all was 21% higher in children born by C-section planned than children born to the vagina.

The risk of developing the most common form of all, B-cell acute lymphoblastic Leukeemia (B-All) was 29% more among those born by planned C-section. The increased risk remained even when researchers adjusted to other relevant factors in mothers and children. Increased risk in boys was more clear than girls and young children.

Researchers emphasize that the risk remains low regardless of delivery mode. B-All is diagnosed among 50 to 70 Swedish children per year. According to the researchers behind the study, additional risk associated with planned C-section matches approximately one case of B-All year per year.

“C-section is an important and often lifelong part of obsthetric care. We do not want mothers to feel concerned about the medically indicated C-section. But when this result is combined with other study results, it shows that the risk of asthma, allergies, or type 1 diabetic is later given by planned C-section, then it is said that C-section,”. Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institute, and lead author of the study.

Researchers discuss potential mechanisms that can explain why it is planned and not emergency C-sections that raise the rising risk of some diseases, which are all related to immunological factors. Logic is emergency Cesarean section Usually begins as a vaginal distribution. This causes stress for the child and exposure to vaginal bacteria if the amniotic sac is broken.

However, in planned C-section, which is usually done before labor naturally, the child does not experience this stress and does not come in contact with vaginal bacteria. Researchers suggest that this difference can help explain the rising risk of all, and assume that the study can contribute to better understanding of what is the cause of all in children.

Did not reach the threshold for some results Statistical importanceWhich means that the opportunity cannot be completely rejected.

“Fortunately, all are rare. This means that many C-dilivars need to achieve a statistically significant results, and the Swedish Registry study is difficult to achieve such a large sample. However, the results are close to important, what is shown with previous studies, and when we adjust to other relevant factors, which still makes them relevant,” the researcher.