Long-term effects of exposure to diethylstilbestrol

In 1985 nearly 1,700 persons who had exposure to diethylstilbestrol (DES)--520 mothers, 1,079 daughters, and 94 sons--responded to a mailed questionnaire about their general health status. Results were compared with responses to the 1985 National Health Interview Survey and other population-based studies. As with research findings in animals, conditions that suggest possibly impaired immune function--that is, respiratory tract infections, asthma, arthritis, and lupus--were reported more frequently among the persons with DES exposure. Conditions that may involve altered endocrine function were also more frequent among such persons. Given the biased sample, findings from this preliminary survey are seen as guidelines to areas meriting more rigorous research.