title: Human exposure to ochratoxin A in areas of Yugoslavia with endemic nephropathy.
abstract: Ochratoxin A is a mycotoxin with pronounced nephrotoxic potency in all species of single-stomach animals studied; it is a major disease determinant of porcine nephropathy and a disease occurring endemically in several countries. This disease is comparable with Balkan (endemic) nephropathy, suggesting a common causal relationship. Ochratoxin A has been found in foodstuffs in many countries, but the highest frequency of ochratoxin A contamination in foods (10.3% of 1,553 samples of foodstuffs) was encountered in an area of Yugoslavia, where Balkan (endemic) nephropathy is prevalent. Detection of ochratoxin A in human blood samples confirmed the prevalent exposure to this food contaminant. Relative risk calculations indicated a tendency to an association between this mycotoxin and Balkan (endemic) nephropathy, supporting the hypothesis of a causal role of ochratoxin A in this disease.
authors: Institute for Medical Research and Occupational Health, Zagreb, Yugoslavia.
authors: R
authors: R
authors: Plestina
authors: S
authors: S
authors: Ceović
authors: S
authors: S
authors: Gatenbeck
authors: V
authors: V
authors: Habazin-Novak
authors: K
authors: K
authors: Hult
authors: E
authors: E
authors: Hökby
authors: P
authors: P
authors: Krogh
authors: B
authors: B
authors: Radić
mesh_terms: D001449:Balkan Nephropathy / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D003710:Demography; D006801:Humans; D009183:Mycotoxins / Q000097:blood*; D009793:Ochratoxins / Q000097:blood* / Q000506:poisoning; D012307:Risk Factors; D015022:Yugoslavia
chemical_list: D009183:Mycotoxins; D009793:Ochratoxins; C025589:ochratoxin A