[Chronic nephropathy in saturnism. Comparative elimination of lead by classic chelating agents and peritoneal...

The authors report one case of saturnism with chronic nephropathy. In a 49 years old Caucasian male, the diagnosis was suggested by the following findings. Two acute abdominal crisis associated with a severe increase in blood pressure and a slight but significant elevation in the lead concentration in blood (1 mg/l) and urine (0,42 and 0,60 mg/24 h). The chronic poisoning was explained by the high lead concentration in the drinking water used by the patient. Despite chronic renal failure, a significant lead urinary chelation was obtained after infusion of Edetate calcium disodium (8 mg/24 h). Although E.D.T.A. keep its value for diagnosis this chelating agent is less effective on lead removal than the peritoneal dialysis (15 mg over a 36 hour-period) which appears to be the most useful method for treatment in case of chronic nephropathy.