Dioxin-like activity and maternal thyroid hormone levels in second trimester maternal serum.
OBJECTIVE
Developmental exposure to dioxin-like compounds has been associated with cognitive and motor impairments in children. These toxicants have been shown to be thyroid toxicants in animal studies. Therefore, the objective of this study was to quantify the overall dioxin-like activity in maternal serum and determine the association between dioxin-like activity and thyroid hormone levels.


METHODS
Cross-sectional examination of serum from pregnant women (n = 150) attending a prenatal diagnosis clinic between January 2002 and December 2003.


RESULTS
Serum dioxin-like activity was measured in 145 of 150 (96.7%) maternal serum samples. The mean (+/- SEM) serum lipid-adjusted dioxin-like activity was 0.34 +/- 0.01 pg/g. Multiple regression analysis failed to demonstrate a relationship between maternal serum dioxin-like activity and serum thyroid hormone levels.


CONCLUSIONS
Dioxin-like activity is quantifiable in an overwhelming majority of second-trimester maternal serum samples but there was no relationship between dioxin-like activity and thyroid hormone levels in our study population.
Foster
Warren G
WG
Reproductive Biology Division, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, McMaster University, Health Sciences Centre, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. fosterw@mcmaster.ca
Holloway
Alison C
AC
Hughes
Claude L
CL
D000328:Adult; D004032:Diet; D004147:Dioxins / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008019:Life Style; D011078:Polychlorinated Biphenyls; D011247:Pregnancy; D011262:Pregnancy Trimester, Second / Q000097:blood*; D011863:Radioimmunoassay; D012907:Smoking; D013963:Thyroid Hormones / Q000097:blood*; D013972:Thyrotropin / Q000097:blood; D013974:Thyroxine / Q000097:blood
D004147:Dioxins; D013963:Thyroid Hormones; D013972:Thyrotropin; D011078:Polychlorinated Biphenyls; D013974:Thyroxine