Author: Marques RC, Dórea JG, Bernardi JV.
Source: Acta Paediatr.
Year: 2010
Comment:
Abstract / Excerpt:
“AIM:
We studied the effect on neurodevelopment of infants who are exposed to thimerosal in tetanus-diphtheria (Td) vaccines during pregnancy.
METHODS:
We compared Gesell Developmental Schedules (GDS) of exclusive breastfed infants at 6 months born to mothers who received Td (1 to 3 doses) against those who were born to mothers who did not take such vaccines.
RESULTS:
Compared with the group of infants not exposed to ethylmercury in utero, the infants of exposed mothers showed no significant difference in neurodevelopment delays. Although there was a significant correlation between hair-Hg of mothers and hair-Hg of neonates (Spearman r = 0.353; p = 0.0011), there was no significant correlation between the level of in utero exposure to ethylmercury in Td vaccines and neonate’s hair-Hg concentrations (Spearman r = 0.060; p = 0.5922). However, regression analysis showed that GDS at 6 months was significantly associated with total mercury concentration of neonate’s hair but was not sensitive to the number of vaccines taken by the mother.
CONCLUSION:
Early neurodevelopment of exclusively breastfed infants is sensitive to in utero exposure to mercury, but maternal thimerosal exposure in tetanus-diphtheria vaccines per se cannot portend clinical neurodevelopment delays measured by GDS at 6 months.”
Citation:
Marques RC, Dórea JG, Bernardi JV. Thimerosal exposure (from tetanus-diphtheria vaccine) during pregnancy and neurodevelopment of breastfed infants at 6 months. Acta Paediatr. 2010; 99(6): 934-9.