| Follow-Up Study of Adolescents Exposed to Di(2-Ethylhexyl) Phthalate (DEHP) as Neonates on Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation (ECMO) Support Khodayar Rais-Bahrami,1 Susan Nunez,2 Mary E. Revenis,1 Naomi L.C. Luban,3 and Billie L. Short1 1Departments of Neonatology, 2Endocrinology, and 3Transfusion Medicine, Children's National Medical Center and The George Washington University School of Medicine, Washington, DC, USA Abstract
Di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) is used to make polyvinyl chloride (PVC) plastic tubing soft and flexible. Animal data show that adverse effects of DEHP exposure may include reduced fertility, reduced sperm production in males, and ovarian dysfunction in females. Known treatments that involve high DEHP exposures are blood exchange transfusions, extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) , and cardiovascular surgery. Although potential exposure to DEHP in ECMO patients is significant, the exposure has not been associated with short-term toxicity. To evaluate long-term toxicity, we undertook a study of neonatal ECMO survivors to assess their onset of puberty and sexual maturity. We evaluated 13 male and 6 female subjects at 14-16 years of age who had undergone ECMO as neonates. All subjects had a complete physical examination including measurements for height, weight, head circumference, and pubertal assessment by Tanner staging. The testicular volume and the phallic length were measured in male participants. Laboratory tests included thyroid, liver, and renal function as well as measurements of luteinizing hormone, follicle-stimulating hormone, testosterone for males, and estradiol for females. Except for one patient with Marfan syndrome, the rest had normal growth percentile for age and sex. All had normal values for thyroid, liver, and renal functions. Sexual hormones were appropriate for the stage of pubertal maturity. Our results indicate that adolescents exposed to significant quantities of DEHP as neonates showed no significant adverse effects on their physical growth and pubertal maturity. Thyroid, liver, renal, and male and female gonadal functions tested were within normal range for age and sex distribution. Key Words: DEHP, ECMO, toxicity. Environ Health Perspect 112:1339-1340 (2004) . doi:10.1289/ehp.6901 available via http://dx.doi.org/ [Online 7 April 2004]
Address correspondence to K. Rais-Bahrami, Department of Neonatology, Children's National Medical Center, 111 Michigan Ave., NW, Washington, DC 20010 USA. Telephone: (202) 884-4764. Fax: (202) 884-3459. E-mail: Kraisbah@CNMC.org The study was supported by grant M01-RR13297 from the General Clinical Research Center, Program of the National Center for Research Resources, National Institutes of Health, Department of Health and Human Services. The authors declare they have no competing financial interests. Received 8 December 2003 ; accepted 7 April 2004.
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