Impact of heavy metals on hormonal and immunological factors in women with repeated miscarriages

In 111 women with repeated miscarriages, the urinary excretionof heavy metals was determined in a challenge test with thechelating agent 2,3-dimercaptopropane-l-sulphonic acid in additionto hormonal, chromosomal, immunological and uterine investigations.The heavy metal excretion was correlated to different immunological(natural killer cells, T cell subpopulations) and hormonal (progesterone,oestradiol, prolactin, thyroid stimulating hormone) parameters.We conclude that heavy metals seem to have a negative impacton ovarian as well as on pituitary function. The heavy metal-inducedimmunological changes may interfere with the physiological adaptationof the immune system to the state of pregnancy with the resultof a miscarriage. The observed heavy metal-induced hormonaland immunological changes may be important factors in the pathogenesisof repeated miscarriages.