ABSTRACT
Objective To investigate the association between genetic polymorphisms of cytochrome P450 MSP1 gene and the glutathione s-transferase GSTM1 gene in female workers exposed to aromatic solvents and spontaneous abortion. Methods A retrospective epidemiological investigation was carried out among 276 female workers including 58 female workers with history of spontaneous abortion and 218 female workers without spontaneous abortion selected in Yanshan of Beijing by the trained investigators using the unified questionnaire. Results The spontaneous abortion of female workers was significantly associated with GSTM1 (absent) (OR=2.07, 95% CI: 1.15-3.71), but not MSP1 (present) and exposure to aromatic solvent. After adust-ment for major confounders including education, age, shift work, body mass index, passive smoking and occupational stress, the multiple logistic regression analysis showed that GSTM1 gene (absent) significantly increased the risk of spontaneous abortion of female workers (OR=2.15, 95% CI: 1.17-3.98). Before and after adjustment for major confounders including education, age, shift work, body mass index, passive smoking and occupational stess, the multiple regression analysis showed that GSTM1 (absent) combined with MSP1 (heterozygous variant type / homozygous variant type) significantly increased the risk of spontaneous abortion (OR=2.98, 95% CI:l. 17-7.59), using the group with GSTM1 (present) and MSP1 (homozygous wild type) as reference group. Conclusion Our data suggested a genetic influence on spontaneous abortion in this population, GSTM1 (absent) was significantly associaled with spontaneous abortion, also provide evidence of additional joint action of gene MSP1 (heterozygous variant type and homozygous variant type) and GSTM1 (absent) to spontaneous abortion.