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[Chronic lead intoxication associated with Ayurvedic medication].

B L J Kanen¹, R M Perenboom

¹VU Medisch Centrum, Postbus 7057, 1007 MB Amsterdam. boris.kanen@vumc.nl

Nederlands Tijdschrift Voor Geneeskunde

|January 13, 2006

Summary

A patient with multiple sclerosis developed lead poisoning from Ayurvedic medication. This highlights the risk of heavy metal contamination in traditional remedies.

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Area of Science:

Toxicology
Internal Medicine
Pharmacology

Background:

Multiple sclerosis (MS) management can involve various medications.
Unexplained symptoms like severe pain, anemia, and gastrointestinal issues warrant thorough investigation.

Observation:

A 46-year-old male MS patient presented with intractable pain, normocytic anemia, and gastrointestinal distress (rectal bleeding, nausea, weight loss).
Initial treatments for pain and anemia were ineffective.
Blood smear revealed basophilic stippling, prompting further investigation into potential heavy metal exposure.

Findings:

The patient had been using Ayurvedic medication prior to symptom onset.
Diagnosis of moderately severe lead intoxication (blood lead level 0.77 mg/l) was confirmed.
The Ayurvedic herbal medication was found to have a very high lead content.

Implications:

Traditional and folk remedies can be a significant source of lead poisoning.
Healthcare providers should consider heavy metal toxicity in patients with unexplained symptoms, especially those using alternative medicines.
Prompt diagnosis and chelation therapy (e.g., 2,3-dimercaptosuccinic acid) are crucial for successful treatment of lead intoxication.

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