Evaluation of maternal infection during pregnancy and childhood leukemia among offspring in Denmark

Maternal infection is common during pregnancy and is an important potential cause of fetal genetic and immunological abnormalities. A population-based cohort study of 2 million children in Denmark evaluated the association between maternal infection during pregnancy and risk of childhood leukemia among offspring. The study showed that maternal infection during pregnancy was associated with a 35% higher risk of childhood leukemia but not other types of cancer. This association was mostly attributed to genital and urinary tract infections, which were associated with a 142% and 65% increased risk of childhood leukemia, respectively.