Prenatal exposure to multiple metallic and metalloid trace elements and the risk of bacterial sepsis in extremely low gestational age newborns: A prospective cohort study

Abstract

BackgroundPrenatal exposures to metallic and metalloid trace elements have been linked to altered immune function in animal studies, but few epidemiologic studies have investigated immunological effects in humans. We evaluated the risk of bacterial sepsis (an extreme immune response to bacterial infection) in relation to prenatal metal/metalloid exposures, individually and jointly, within a US-based cohort of infants born extremely preterm.MethodsWe analyzed data from 269 participants in the US-based ELGAN cohort, which enrolled infants delivered at <28 weeks' gestation (2002–2004). Concentrations of 8 trace elements—including 4 non-essential and 4 essential—were measured using inductively coupled plasma tandem mass spectrometry in umbilical cord tissue, reflecting in utero fetal exposures. The infants were followed from birth to postnatal day 28 with bacterial blood culture results reported weekly to detect sepsis. Discrete-time hazard and quantile g-computation models were fit to estimate associations for individual trace elements and their mixtures with sepsis incidence.ResultsApproximately 30% of the extremely preterm infants developed sepsis during the follow-up period (median follow-up: 2 weeks). After adjustment for potential confounders, no trace element was individually associated with sepsis risk. However, there was some evidence of a non-monotonic relationship for cadmium, with hazard ratios (HRs) for the second, third, and fourth (highest) quartiles being 1.13 (95% CI: 0.51–2.54), 1.94 (95% CI: 0.87–4.32), and 1.88 (95% CI: 0.90–3.93), respectively. The HRs for a quartile increase in concentrations of all 8 elements, all 4 non-essential elements, and all 4 essential elements were 0.92 (95% CI: 0.68–1.25), 1.19 (95% CI: 0.92–1.55), and 0.77 (95% CI: 0.57–1.06). Cadmium had the greatest positive contribution whereas arsenic, copper, and selenium had the greatest negative contributions to the mixture associations.ConclusionsWe found some evidence that greater prenatal exposure to cadmium was associated with an increased the risk of bacterial sepsis in extremely preterm infants. However, this risk was counteracted by a combination of arsenic, copper, and selenium. Future studies are needed to confirm these findings and to evaluate the potential for nutritional interventions to prevent sepsis in high-risk infants.

Prenatal Metal Exposure Alters the Placental Proteome in a Sex-Dependent Manner in Extremely Low Gestational Age Newborns: Links to Gestational Age

“…The scientific support for the appropriate use of umbilical cord includes established comparisons of metals between the cord and placenta [30,61]. Methods for umbilical cord tissue collection and processing have been described elsewhere [17]. Briefly, immediately after delivery, two 1 cm segments of the umbilical cord were collected with a stainless-steel scalpel blade using sterile techniques.…”

“…These consequences may range from adverse pregnancy and neonatal outcomes, such as low birthweight, or long-lasting health outcomes in the child, including altered development of tissues and organs as well as increased susceptibility to disease such as chronic heart or metabolic diseases [14][15][16]. Despite considerable efforts to raise awareness of the harms of toxic metals, recent studies highlight that continued exposures to these hazardous metals persist [17]. More specifically, exposure to toxic metals such as Cd, Pb, or metalloids such as As has been associated with developmental toxicity [18][19][20].…”