Prenatal diethylstilbestrol exposure and self-reported immune-related diseases.
OBJECTIVE
To compare self-reports of immune-related diseases in diethylstilbestrol (DES) daughters and controls. Prenatal exposure to DES has been associated with several malformations in the lower genital tract, a higher prevalence of adenosis, and increased risk of clear cell adenocarcinoma, and estrogen-dependent tumors. Lately, reports have been published indicating a link between DES exposure and alterations in the immune system. The present study focuses on the possible clinical consequences of an affected immune system.


METHODS
DES daughters (n=170) and control women (n=123) completed questionnaires containing lists of immune-related diseases, specified into three categories (i) allergies, (ii) auto-immune disorders, and (iii) infectious diseases.


RESULTS
DES daughters reported significantly more disease conditions than the controls. Analyses for separate disease categories (allergies, auto-immune disorders, infectious disease), yielded a statistically significant difference only for infectious disease. Within this last category, two infectious diseases yielded highly significant differences: bladder infection and measles.


CONCLUSIONS
The present findings suggest that DES daughters are at higher risk of developing immune-related disease states.
Vingerhoets
A J
AJ
Department of Psychology, Tilburg University, Netherlands. vingerhoets@kub.nl
Assies
J
J
Goodkin
K
K
Van Heck
G L
GL
Bekker
M H
MH
D000328:Adult; D001327:Autoimmune Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology; D004054:Diethylstilbestrol / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006967:Hypersensitivity / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology; D007154:Immune System Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000453:epidemiology; D007239:Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology; D008457:Measles / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology; D011247:Pregnancy; D011297:Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects; D012307:Risk Factors; D001745:Urinary Bladder Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology
D004054:Diethylstilbestrol