Hoppe, Kumar publish study in Reproductive Toxicology

Kara Hoppe, DO, PhD, associate professor in the Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine, and Sathish Kumar, DVM, PhD, professor in the School of Veterinary Medicine, co-authored a new study published in Reproductive Toxicology. Co-authors include Jay Mishra, Bradley Bosse, Kristen Malecki, and Scott Hetzel.

In “Perfluoralkyl substances (PFAS) exposure and preeclampsia risk: Impaired angiogenesis through suppression of VEGF signaling,” Hoppe, Kumar and co-authors investigated the link between maternal PFAS exposure and preeclampsia risk in Wisconsin. Their study was also the first to link maternal PFAS exposure to preeclampsia in the state.

“In conclusion, this study provides evidence that exposure to PFAS, particularly PFOS and PFHpS, is associated with an increased risk of PE after 34 weeks gestation…Given the widespread exposure to PFAS and their persistence in the environment, understanding the impact of these chemicals on human health, particularly during pregnancy, is of paramount importance for public health and regulatory efforts.”

Read the full article here.

**by Ob-Gyn Communications Intern Paige Stevenson