Maternal Smoking Linked To Chromosomal Instability In Fetal Cells

NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Findings from a new study suggest that maternal smoking may have a genotoxic effect on the developing fetus. In fact, one common type of chromosome damage appears to increase the risk of hematologic malignancies.

While tobacco smoking is known to have a number of adverse effects on pregnancy, there have been limited data on any possible genotoxic effects to the fetus, according to the report in the Journal of the American Medical Association for March 9th.

To investigate, Dr. Josep Egozcue, from Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona and colleagues analyzed fetal amniocytes obtained during routine amniocentesis from 25 women who smoked and 25 controls. The women in the smoking group smoked at least 10 cigarettes per day for at least 10 years.

The rate of structural chromosomal abnormalities in the smoking group was 12.1%, much higher than the rate seen in controls -- 3.5% (p = 0.002), the authors report. In addition, rates of chromosomal instability and chromosomal lesions were significantly higher in the smoking group.

Analysis of the 689 breakpoints identified revealed that band 11q23, which is often tied to hematopoietic malignancies, was the chromosome region most commonly affected by tobacco smoke.

In a related editorial, Dr. David M. DeMarini and Dr. R. Julian Preston, from the US Environmental Protection Agency in Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, comment that the current study represents "the first report of tobacco-smoke-associated genotoxic damage in fetal epithelial cells from mothers who smoke."

Still, the study does have certain limitations, such as no direct or indirect measure of smoke exposure, and, therefore, the findings should be regarded as preliminary, they add.

Source: JAMA 2005;293:1212-1222,1264-1265. [ Google search on this article ]

MeSH Headings: Environmental Pollutants, Noxae, and Pesticides : Genetic Techniques : Investigative Techniques : Mutagenicity Tests : Mutagens : Noxae : Pregnancy Complications, Hematologic : Smoking : Toxicity Tests : Chemical Actions and Uses : Chemical Actions : Analytical, Diagnostic and Therapeutic Techniques and Equipment : Chemicals and Drugs