[A case of recurrent alimentary lead poisoning]

The authors describe a case of lead poisoning in a family (father, mother, son, daughter). The condition was at first diagnosed as acute hepatic porphyria. The correct diagnosis was made on the basis of increased urinary excretion of delta-aminolevulinic acid and coproporphyrin and on the basis of the revealed reversibly inhibited activity of delta-aminolevulinic acid dehydratase in red blood cells. The source of intoxication was the use of red lead pigment instead of dried red pepper.