Little is known about whether patterns of early growth are associated with altered respiratory and immune development. A study published in the October issue of Thorax relates prenatal and infant growth patterns to wheeze and atopy at age 3 years. Researchers found a rapid growth trajectory during 11–19 weeks gestation followed by late gestation growth faltering is associated with atopy, suggesting that influences affecting fetal growth may also alter immune development. A lower early fetal growth trajectory is associated with non-atopic wheeze, possibly reflecting an association with smaller airways. An association between postnatal adiposity gain and wheeze may partly reflect prenatal influences that cause fetal growth to falter but are then followed by postnatal adiposity gain. For access to the complete article, please click here.