Probable alteracion en la transmision neuromuscular en un caso de saturnismo. / Probable change in the neuromuscular transmission in a case of saturnism

Se examino a un nino de cuatro anos y medio de edad quien habia vivido desde su nacimiento en un ambiente contaminado con plomo. Dos meses antes de su admision hospitalaria el menor presento una crisis que sugeria ataque al sistema nervioso central y que fue seguido de una manifestacion de neuropatia periferica (marcha en "estepaje"). En examenes especificos de laboratorio, radiograficos y electrofisiologicos se observaron alteraciones compatibles con un cuadro grave de saturnismo infantil que cursaba con trastornos bilaterales de la funcion neuromuscular en la region del nervio ciatico popliteo externo. Tres semanas despues de iniciado el tratamiento a base de EDTA calcico disodico, se observo notable mejoria en la dorsiflexion de ambos pies; se observo tambien mejoria concurrente en los resultados de los examenes electrofisiologicos y de laboratorio que son especificos para el saturnismo. Los resultados sugieren que la transmision neuromuscular en el hombre puede verse afectada de manera reversible por el plomo

Blood protoporphyrin IX as a biological indicator of increased absorption of lead.

Blood lead and erythrocyte zinc-protoporphyrin levels were studied in 45 male adults exposed to lead (traditional home-factory pottery) and compared with two control populations. These two variables are well correlated in all the studied populations. Delta-aminolevulinic acid levels in urine (ALA-U) were significantly higher in the exposed group. Hemoglobin concentration (Hb), hematocrit (Hc) values and clinical data were also considered. We conclude that the zinc-protoporphyrin method here used is a simple reliable field test of the selection of individuals who need more detailed clinical investigation.

Erythrocyte protoporphyrin IX as a diagnostic and therapy evaluating tool in lead poisoning.

After lead poisoning was confirmed in nine adult males industrially exposed to lead dusts, therapy was instituted with oral penicillamine. Several laboratory examinations confirmed diagnosis, and also monitored the efficiency of penicillamine therapy. This study sought to investigate the usefulness of protoporphyrin determination in erythrocytes as a tool in diagnostic and therapy-evaluating studies. This determination seems to be a good clinical aid in diagnosis, but is a poor monitor to project eventual recovery of lead-poisoned patients in short-term studies.

Toxic effects of lead impurities found in aluminum factories.

A study of workers exposed to low levels of lead as impurities in aluminum (as low as 0.07%) shows a statistically significant difference in blood and urine lead levels as compared with a control group. In addition, alterations in precursors of heme were demonstrated as reflected in elevated levels of urinary delta-aminolevulinic acid and erythrocyte protoporphyrin IX. This study has implications for workers who are exposed to metals with low concentrations of lead (less than 1%) since this exposure tends to go unnoticed both by the workers, even when symptoms are present, and by physicians who ignore or discard signs of lead intoxication because they relate the occupational exposure of the workers to other metals, not directly to lead.

Lead exposure in two pottery handicraft populations.

Lead poisoning studies were carried out in the populations of two potter towns in the State of Jalisco, Mexico. The first population in Tonalá included 198 people who use lead monoxide (PbO) in making pottery. The second population in El Rosario included 187 people who do not use any lead salt in the pottery-making process. The studies included children, adolescents and adults of both sexes. Analyses for lead in the blood (Pb-B), hemoglobin (Hb), hematocrit (Ht), and urinary delta-aminolevulinic acid (ALA U) were carried out. In the population exposed to lead, abnormally high lead concentrations in blood and urinary delta-aminolevulinic acid were found in both sexes and in all age groups studied. When compared to the control group, the differences are statistically significant. The Hb and Ht results fell within the lower normal limits in both populations. No cases of acute lead poisoning were found, but the high amount of lead absorption in the Tonalá population may be caused by the rudimentary means of manufacturing their products.

Urinary delta-aminolevulinic acid as a biological indicator throughout penicillamine therapy in lead intoxication.

A group of 121 patients with occupational lead exposure was studied. Saturnism was confirmed in 42 of them. Patients were given D-penicillamine in doses of 0.75 and 1.5 g/day. Urinary delta-aminolevulinic acid was selected as a toxicity biological indicator; its concentrations were quantified daily during therapy. Urinary delta-aminolevulinic acid is considered a good biological indicator throughout penicillamine therapy and also in the detection of lead intoxication. Likewise, the chelating test is considered an excellent method to confirm the diagnosis of lead poisoning.

[Chromosome analysis in professional subjects exposed to lead contamination]. / Análisis cromosómico en personas profesionalmente expuestas a contaminación con plomo

Chromosomes were analyzed in cultured lymphocytes of 44 male workers from a lead oxide factory, and from a control group of 15 nonexposed individuals. Lead concentration in blood ranged from 30 to 75 mug/100 ml in exposed subjects and from 15 to 35 mug/10 ml in controls. Length of exposure to lead ranged from one month to 11 years eight months. In subjects occupationally exposed to lead, a significant increase in chromatid and chromosome aberrations was found. The frequency of such findings parallels exposure time to lead.

[Determination of delta aminolevulinic acid in urine in a population exposed to lead]. / Determinación del ácido delta. Aminolevulínico urinario en población expuesta a plomo

Uninary levels of delta-aminolevulinic acid (ALA) were determined in 93 workers exposed to lead. Control groups were made up of 32 employees of the same factories of test group and of 24 patients with no history of lead exposure. In the first group, urinary concentration of ALA was 28.55 mg/1; it was 3.36 mg/1 in the second group and 2.98 mg/1 in the other control group. Differences between workers and controls were statistically significant.