Immunoglobulin levels in maternal blood, cord blood and breast milk of Nigerian pregnant women using hydroquinone and non-hydroquinone containing skin lightening creams

Abstract

ABSTRACT Background: Skin lightening is practiced by pregnant women whose skin gets darker due to increased skin pigmentation arising from pregnancy associated hormonal changes but report on the levels of immunoglobulin (Ig) classes in pregnant users of skin lightening creams or their babies was not encountered. This study was carried out to assess immunoglobulin levels in maternal blood, cord blood and breast milk of Nigerian pregnant women using hydroquinone and non hydroquinone containing skin lightening creams. Method: Sixty participants were recruited for this study. Thirty of them were daily users of skin lightening creams for six to seven years, while the remaining thirty participants never used skin lightening creams served as controls. Skin lightening creams were classified as hydroquinone containing or hydroquinone lacking based on manufacturer instructions. Levels of mercury (Hg) and Ig classes (IgG, A and M) were measured in maternal sera, cord sera and breast milk plasma using Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometry (AAS) and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA) respectively. The data were presented as mean ± SD and analyzed using Student t-test. Results: The levels of Hg in maternal sera(0.37± 0.05 µg/dl) of users of hydroquinone containing skin lightening creams was statically significantly higher when compared with the levels of Hg (0.32 ±0.05 µg/dl) in users of non-hydroquinone containing creams (p< 0.05).Maternal serum IgG, cord IgG and breast milk IgG of the pregnant women using skin lightening creams were significantly higher when compared with the controls. Also, the mean maternal IgM, cord IgM and breast milk IgM of the pregnant women using skin lightening creams were significantly higher when compared with the controls (p< 0.05).Statically significant differences were observed when the mean levels of maternal IgA (246.08 ± 90.30mg/dl), cord IgA (256.21±111.91mg/dl) and breast milk IgA (244.07±104.08mg/dl) in users of hydroquinone containing skin lightening creams were compared with the levels of maternal IgA (253.39±78.02mg/dl), cord IgA (264.74 ±86.16mg/dl), and breast milk IgA (260.54±78.98mg/dl) in users of non – hydroquinone containing skin lightening creams (p > 0.05). Conclusion: Raised IgG and IgM in mothers and babies of skin lightening creams users could be a result of polyclonal B lymphocyte activation which may lead to autoimmune disease later in life. Also, Hg but not hydroquinone had negative effect on babies’ immunoglobulin levels. Recommendation: There is need for public awareness programs to enlighten the populace about the danger involved in the use of skin lightening creams particularly among pregnant women.