IMPACT OF HEAVY-METALS ON HORMONAL AND IMMUNOLOGICAL FACTORS IN WOMENWITH REPEATED MISCARRIAGES

In 111 women with repeated miscarriages, the urinary excretion of heav y metals was determined in a challenge test with the chelating agent 2 ,3-dimercaptopropane-1-sulphonic acid in addition to hormonal, chromos omal, immunological and uterine investigations. The heavy metal excret ion was correlated to different immunological (natural killer cells, T cell subpopulations) and hormonal (progesterone, oestradiol, prolacti n, thyroid stimulating hormone) parameters. We conclude that heavy met als seem to have a negative impact on ovarian as well as on pituitary function. The heavy metal-induced immunological changes may interfere with the physiological adaptation of the immune system to the state of pregnancy with the result of a miscarriage. The observed heavy metal- induced hormonal and immunological changes may be important factors in the pathogenesis of repeated miscarriages.