title: Do toxic metals and trace elements have a role in the pathogenesis of conotruncal heart malformations?
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of the present study was to determine the role of toxic elements and trace elements in the pathogenesis of conotruncal heart defects by measuring their concentrations in the first meconium specimens of the affected newborns.
  
  
  METHODS
  Concentrations of lead, cadmium, iron, zinc, and copper were measured in 1st-day meconium specimens that were collected from 60 newborns with conotruncal heart defects (Group I) and 72 healthy newborns (Group II).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The newborns with conotruncal defects and the healthy newborns had statistically similar demographic and clinical characteristics. When compared with healthy newborns, mean concentrations of lead, cadmium, iron, zinc, and copper were significantly higher in newborns with conotruncal heart defects (p=0.001 for each). In total, 51 newborns with conotruncal heart defects had normal karyotype. These newborns had significantly higher concentrations of lead, cadmium, iron, zinc, and copper when compared with healthy newborns. There were significant and positive correlations between the concentrations of lead and cadmium (r=0.618, p=0.001), lead and iron (r=0.368, p=0.001), lead and zinc (r=0.245, p=0.005), lead and copper (r=0.291, p=0.001), cadmium and iron (r=0.485, p=0.001), cadmium and zinc (r=0.386, p=0.001), and cadmium and copper (r=0.329, p=0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Toxic metals and trace elements may disturb DNA repair mechanisms by impairing DNA methylation profiles, and thus have a role in the pathogenesis of conotruncal heart defects.
authors.affiliation: 1Department of NeonatologyAfyon Kocatepe University Medical Faculty Hospital, Afyonkarahisar,Turkey.
authors.forename: Afsin A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Kundak
authors.affiliation: 2Department of Pediatric Cardiology,Afyon Kocatepe University Medical Faculty Hospital,AfyonkarahisarTurkey.
authors.forename: Ayhan
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pektas
authors.affiliation: 3Department of Neonatology,Dr. Sami Ulus Obstetrics,Gynecology and Pediatrics Research and Education Hospital,AnkaraTurkey.
authors.forename: Aysegul
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Zenciroglu
authors.affiliation: 4Department of Biochemistry,Cerrahpasa University Medical Faculty Hospital,IstanbulTurkey.
authors.forename: Semra
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ozdemir
authors.affiliation: 4Department of Biochemistry,Cerrahpasa University Medical Faculty Hospital,IstanbulTurkey.
authors.forename: Umit B
authors.initials: UB
authors.lastname: Barutcu
authors.affiliation: 5Department of Pediatric Cardiology,Dr. Sami Ulus Obstetrics,Gynecology and Pediatrics Research and Education Hospital,Ankara,Turkey.
authors.forename: Utku A
authors.initials: UA
authors.lastname: Orun
authors.affiliation: 3Department of Neonatology,Dr. Sami Ulus Obstetrics,Gynecology and Pediatrics Research and Education Hospital,AnkaraTurkey.
authors.forename: Nurullah
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Okumus
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002104:Cadmium / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000378:metabolism; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003300:Copper / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D006330:Heart Defects, Congenital / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000378:metabolism; D000075322:Heavy Metal Poisoning; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007501:Iron / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D008470:Meconium / Q000737:chemistry; D019216:Metals, Heavy / Q000378:metabolism; D011041:Poisoning / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000378:metabolism; D011446:Prospective Studies; D014131:Trace Elements / Q000009:adverse effects*; D015032:Zinc / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D019216:Metals, Heavy; D014131:Trace Elements; D002104:Cadmium; D003300:Copper; D007501:Iron; D015032:Zinc
keywords: CHD; toxic metal; trace element