Effect of heavy metals in the meconium on preterm mortality: preliminary study.
BACKGROUND
There have been many studies that have investigated the risk factors of mortality in preterm infants, but none has shown an association between preterm mortality and exposure to heavy metals or trace elements. The aim of this study was therefore to measure the levels of toxic metals (lead, cadmium) and trace elements (zinc, iron, copper) in meconium samples and elucidate their association with preterm mortality.


METHODS
Metals and trace elements were measured in the meconium of 304 preterm infants using a flame atomic absorption spectrophotometer.


RESULTS
The level of heavy metals and trace elements in non-surviving infants was significantly higher than in surviving infants. Moreover, the level of heavy metals and trace elements in non-surviving infants whose gestational age was <30 weeks (n = 11) was significantly higher than in surviving infants (n = 12). Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis showed that gestational age and meconium lead level predicted early mortality in premature newborns. Furthermore, this curve analysis showed that, when comparing meconium lead level and gestational age, meconium lead level had a similar effect on mortality as gestational age.


CONCLUSIONS
Meconium lead level and gestational age are associated with increased mortality risk in preterm neonates.
Neonatology Division, Faculty of Medicine, Kocaeli University, Kocaeli, Turkey. gulcanturker@kocaeli.edu.tr
Gülcan
G
Turker
Gamze
G
Ozsoy
Semra
S
Ozdemir
Bora
B
Barutçu
Ayse Sevim
AS
Gökalp
D002104:Cadmium / Q000032:analysis / Q000633:toxicity*; D005260:Female; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature; D007854:Lead / Q000032:analysis / Q000633:toxicity*; D008297:Male; D008470:Meconium / Q000737:chemistry*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011297:Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000401:mortality*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012372:ROC Curve; D013054:Spectrophotometry, Atomic; D014131:Trace Elements / Q000032:analysis / Q000633:toxicity*
D014131:Trace Elements; D002104:Cadmium; D007854:Lead