PCBs, hexachlorobenzene and DDE are not associated with recurrent miscarriage.
OBJECTIVE
A case-control study was designed to evaluate any associations between high exposure to polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB), hexachlorobenzene (HCB) and the 1,1,1,-trichloro-2,2-bis (p-chlorophenyl) ethane (DDT) metabolite 1,1-dichloro-2,2-bis (p-chlorophenyl) ethylene (DDE) and recurrent miscarriage and immunoendocrine abnormalities.


METHODS
A total of 18 kinds of co-planer PCBs, HCB, DDE, natural killer cell (NK) activity, antiphospholipid antibodies, antinuclear antibody, prolactin, progesterone, thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) and free T4 were examined in 45 patients with a history of three or more (3-11) consecutive first-trimester miscarriages and 30 healthy women with no history of live birth and infertility.


RESULTS
There were no differences in mean +/- S.D. values in serum samples for PCBs, HCB and DDE between patients and controls. Hypothyroidism, hyperprolactinemia, luteal phase defects, NK cell activity and the presence of autoantibodies were also not associated with levels of any of the compounds in the patients.


CONCLUSIONS
PCBs, HCB and DDE are not associated with miscarriage and immunoendocrine abnormalities in patients with a history of recurrent miscarriage.
Sugiura-Ogasawara
Mayumi
M
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Nagoya City University Medical School, Nagoya, Japan. og.mym@med.nagoya-cu.ac.jp
Ozaki
Yasuhiko
Y
Sonta
Shin-ichi
S
Makino
Tsunehisa
T
Suzumori
Kaoru
K
D000026:Abortion, Habitual / Q000097:blood / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000276:immunology; D000328:Adult; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003633:Dichlorodiphenyl Dichloroethylene / Q000097:blood / Q000633:toxicity*; D005260:Female; D006581:Hexachlorobenzene / Q000097:blood / Q000633:toxicity*; D006801:Humans; D011078:Polychlorinated Biphenyls / Q000097:blood / Q000633:toxicity*; D011247:Pregnancy
D003633:Dichlorodiphenyl Dichloroethylene; D006581:Hexachlorobenzene; D011078:Polychlorinated Biphenyls