title: Relationship between blood lead levels and hematological indices in pregnant women.
abstract: Several studies have revealed a negative association between blood lead levels and hematological impairment. In this cross-sectional study, we examined the relationship between blood lead levels and hematological indices in 292 pregnant women from Durango, Mexico. Apparently healthy pregnant women, aged 14-41 years and at 3-41 weeks of gestation, were recruited between June 2007 and May 2008. Blood lead and hematological indices were measured. The mean blood lead was 2.79 ± 2.16 μg/dL, and lead levels ≥ 5 μg/dL were detected in 25 women (8.6%). Hemoglobin, hematocrit, and red blood cells count were significantly higher in pregnant women with a blood lead concentration of ≥ 5 μg/dL than the group with lower blood lead levels (p < .05). Mean corpuscular volume and mean corpuscular hemoglobin were not significantly related to lead levels. Hemoglobin and hematocrit showed a non-significant positive correlation with blood lead, but the correlation between red blood cell count and blood lead levels was statistically significant (r = 0.185, p = .002). The findings suggest that a positive association between blood lead and some hematological indices may occur at relatively low blood lead concentration (mean < 5 μg/dL).
authors.affiliation: a Instituto de Investigación Científica , Universidad Juárez del Estado de Durango , Durango, Durango , México.
authors.forename: Osmel
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: La-Llave-León
authors.forename: Rodrigo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Lugo-Soto
authors.forename: Marisela
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Aguilar-Durán
authors.forename: Sergio
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Estrada-Martínez
authors.forename: José-Manuel
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Salas-Pacheco
authors.forename: Ada
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sandoval-Carrillo
authors.forename: Francisco Xavier
authors.initials: FX
authors.lastname: Castellanos-Juárez
authors.forename: Marcel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Barraza-Salas
authors.forename: Fernando
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Vázquez-Alanís
authors.forename: Gonzalo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: García-Vargas
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D004909:Erythrocyte Indices; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000737:chemistry*; D005260:Female; D006400:Hematocrit; D006454:Hemoglobins / Q000032:analysis*; D006801:Humans; D007854:Lead / Q000097:blood*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011264:Pregnancy Trimesters / Q000097:blood* / Q000502:physiology; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D006454:Hemoglobins; D007854:Lead
keywords: blood lead; pregnancy; pregnancy hematological indices