ABSTRACT
Certain complications of pregnancy, e.g., threatened spontaneous abortion, toxemia, emesis, and anemia, were studied in pregnant women living in industrial areas contaminated by smelters and the petrochemical industry. Exposure to lead or aromatic hydrocarbons was assessed in parallel by the determination of these agents or their metabolites in blood and urine. Comparison of respective exposure levels was made between women with normal pregnancies and those with complications. Significantly higher levels of lead in blood and increased excretion of the metabolic products of organic solvents were found in women with complicated pregnancies compared to those with normal pregnancies. Threatened spontaneous abortion, toxemia, and anemia were associated with higher lead exposure in the vicinity of smelters. In these patients, evidence of disturbances of blood glutathione equilibrium and increased lipid peroxidation were found indicating a decreased ability to compensate for the effects of exposure. Styrene exposure in a petrochemical industrial area was associated mainly with late toxemia and nephropathy. Patients with these complications also had a tendency to elevated exposure to other aromatic hydrocarbons. It is suggested that complications of pregnancy may be induced by environmental agents at levels lower than those that result in pregnancy loss or preterm birth.
Subject(s)
Air Pollutants/adverse effects , Anemia/chemically induced , Environmental Exposure/adverse effects , Hydrocarbons/adverse effects , Lead/adverse effects , Pregnancy Complications/chemically induced , Toxemia/chemically induced , Abortion, Threatened/blood , Abortion, Threatened/chemically induced , Adult , Anemia/blood , Female , Humans , Hydrocarbons/blood , Lead/blood , Pregnancy , Pregnancy Complications/blood , Toxemia/bloodABSTRACT
Specific features in the course of pregnancy and labor were studied in 24 hyperprolactinemic women after parlodel stimulation. A high incidence of threatened abortions (7 cases), late gestosis (7 cases), fetal hypoxia (5 cases), early rupture of amniotic fluid sac (4 cases), surgical delivery (3 cases) was noted. Regular clinical and biochemical check-ups are necessary during pregnancy and postpartum. The data permit a conclusion that women in whom pregnancy resulted from parlodel stimulation should be referred to a risk group.