[Chronic lead nephropathy. Epidemiology and diagnosis]

Chronic lead nephropathy has recently been rediscovered. Its usual manifestations are hypertension, gout and renal impairment. Retrospective epidemiological data suggest that prolonged exposure to lead increases the risk of hypertension and nephropathy. An increase in EDTA-induced urinary lead concentration (above 600 micrograms/72 hours), perfectly representative of lead concentration in bone, has been found with a 5 to 12 percent prevalence in chronic renal impairment irrespective of its cause. The origin of lead impregnation and its influence on the course of the renal disease have not yet been elucidated.