Blood laboratory findings in patients suffering from self‐perceived electromagnetic hypersensitivity (EHS)

Abstract

Risks from electromagnetic devices are of considerable concern. Electrohypersensitive (EHS) persons attribute a variety of rather unspecific symptoms to exposure to electromagnetic fields. The pathophysiology of EHS is unknown and therapy remains a challenge. We hypothesized that some electrosensitive individuals are suffering from common somatic health problems. Toward this end we analysed clinical laboratory parameters including thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), alanine transaminase (ALT), aspartate transaminase (AST), creatinine, hemoglobine, hematocrit and c-reactive protein (CRP) in subjects suffering from EHS and in controls that are routinely used in clinical medicine to identify or screen for common somatic disorders. One hundred thirty-two patients (n = 42 males and n = 90 females) and 101 controls (n = 34 males and n = 67 females) were recruited. Our results identified laboratory signs of thyroid dysfunction, liver dysfunction and chronic inflammatory processes in small but remarkable fractions of EHS sufferers as potential sources of symptoms that merit further investigation in future studies. In the cases of TSH and ALT/AST there were significant differences between cases and controls. The hypotheses of anaemia or kidney dysfunction playing a major role in EHS could be unambiguously refuted. Clinically it is recommended to check for signs of treatable somatic conditions when caring for individuals suffering from self-proclaimed EHS.

Metabolic and Genetic Screening of Electromagnetic Hypersensitive Subjects as a Feasible Tool for Diagnostics and Intervention

“…The ratio showed a remarkable elevation versus CTR in favor of the more proinflammatory ω 6 PUFA in the MCS group ( P < 0.001), while EHS values were instead nearly overlapping CTR values, data that appears consistent with the overall less pronounced prooxidative and proinflammatory state evidenced in EHS versus MCS, from the whole pattern of redox parameters investigated in this study. Again, this molecular marker difference between the two environmental hypersensitivities can possibly be connected with the clinical setting, where, for example, a higher frequency of pathological obesity with metabolic syndrome is observed in MCS [50], whereas EHS condition features a milder chronic inflammatory status [51]. …”

Effects of electromagnetic radiation exposure on bone mineral density, thyroid, and oxidative stress index in electrical workers

“…In a large-scale study, Bergamaschi et al detected no significant difference on the workers exposed to EMF because of cell phone use in terms of the TSH level; 59 Selmaoui et al found that low-dose EMF exposure for every other night or continuously did not affect serum total-free thyroxin (T4) and triiodothyronine (T3) as well as TSH levels. 60 No significant effect of low-dose EMF exposure for a long period was found on TSH in human studies carried out in a similar manner with less participation, 61 , 62 whereas no difference was detected on individuals exposed to low-density EMF for a long period in terms of the frequency of thyroid cancer. 63 Koyu et al found a significant decrease in T3, T4, and TSH levels in the rats who were exposed to a low-dose EMF for 4 weeks when compared with the control group.…”

Disturbed sleep in individuals with idiopathic environmental intolerance attributed to electromagnetic fields (IEI‐EMF): Melatonin assessment as a biological marker

“…Overall, there are very few data available on IEI-EMF's biomarkers [Dahmen et al, 2009;Ghezel-Ahmadi et al, 2010]. Further studies are needed to look for other biomarkers that may help in diagnosing IEI-EMF.…”