Prenatal Exposure to Bisphenol A: Is There an Association between Bisphenol A in Second Trimester Amniotic Fluid and Fetal Growth?
Nikolaos Loukas,
Dionysios Vrachnis,
Nikolaos Antonakopoulos,
Vasilios Pergialiotis,
Areti Mina,
Ioannis Papoutsis,
Christos Iavazzo,
Alexandros Fotiou,
Sofoklis Stavros,
Georgios Valsamakis,
Nikolaos Vlachadis,
Georgios Maroudias,
George Mastorakos,
Zoi Iliodromiti,
Petros Drakakis,
Nikolaos Vrachnis
Affiliations
Nikolaos Loukas
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Tzaneio General Hospital, 185 36 Piraeus, Greece
Dionysios Vrachnis
Department of Clinical Therapeutics, Alexandra Hospital, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 115 28 Athens, Greece
Nikolaos Antonakopoulos
Third Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Attikon Hospital, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 124 62 Athens, Greece
Vasilios Pergialiotis
First Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Alexandra Hospital, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 115 28 Athens, Greece
Areti Mina
Department of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 115 27 Athens, Greece
Ioannis Papoutsis
Department of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 115 27 Athens, Greece
Christos Iavazzo
Department of Gynecologic Oncology, Metaxa Memorial Cancer Hospital, 185 37 Piraeus, Greece
Alexandros Fotiou
Third Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Attikon Hospital, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 124 62 Athens, Greece
Sofoklis Stavros
Third Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Attikon Hospital, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 124 62 Athens, Greece
Georgios Valsamakis
Second Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Endocrine Unit, Aretaieion Hospital, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 115 28 Athens, Greece
Nikolaos Vlachadis
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Kalamata General Hospital, 241 00 Kalamata, Greece
Georgios Maroudias
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Tzaneio General Hospital, 185 36 Piraeus, Greece
George Mastorakos
Second Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Endocrine Unit, Aretaieion Hospital, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 115 28 Athens, Greece
Zoi Iliodromiti
Department of Neonatology, Aretaieion Hospital, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 115 28 Athens, Greece
Petros Drakakis
Third Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Attikon Hospital, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 124 62 Athens, Greece
Nikolaos Vrachnis
Third Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Attikon Hospital, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 124 62 Athens, Greece
Background and Objectives: Fetal growth abnormalities increase the risk of negative perinatal and long-term outcomes. Bisphenol A (BPA) is a ubiquitous endocrine-disrupting chemical to which humans may be exposed in a number of ways, such as from the environment, via various consumer products, and through the individual’s diet. Since the compound possesses estrogen-mimicking properties and exerts epigenetic and genotoxic effects, it has been associated with harmful effects impacting the entire spectrum of human life, including, vitally, the intrauterine period. We investigated the role of maternal exposure to BPA in abnormal fetal growth velocity, both impaired and excessive. Materials and Methods: Amniotic fluid samples were collected from 35 women who underwent amniocentesis early in the second trimester due to medical reasons. Pregnancies were followed until delivery, and birth weights were recorded. The amniotic fluid samples were subsequently divided into three groups based on fetal birth weight, as follows: AGA (appropriate for gestational age), SGA (small for gestational age), and LGA (large for gestational age). Amniotic fluid BPA levels were determined by gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry. Results: BPA was detected in 80% (28/35) of our amniotic fluid samples. Median concentration was 281.495 pg/mL and ranged from 108.82 pg/mL to 1605.36 pg/mL. No significant association was observed between the study groups regarding BPA concentration. A significant positive correlation between amniotic fluid BPA concentration and birth weight centile (r = 0.351, p-value = 0.039) was identified. BPA levels were also inversely associated with gestational age in pregnancies at term (between 37 and 41 weeks) (r = −0.365, p-value = 0.031). Conclusions: Our findings suggest that maternal exposure to BPA during the early second trimester of pregnancy can potentially contribute to increased birthweight percentiles and to decreased gestational age in pregnancies at term.
