Succimer therapy for congenital lead poisoning from maternal petrol sniffing
Suzanna T Powell1, Srinivas Bolisetty, Gavin R Wheaton
1Paediatrics, Tamworth Base Hospital, PO Box 640, Tamworth, NSW 2340, Australia. Suzanna.Powell@hnehealth.nsw.gov.au
Abstract:
An infant, born at 35 weeks' gestation to a woman who sniffed petrol, had a cord blood lead level eight times the accepted limit. Treatment with oral dimercaptosuccinic acid promptly reduced his blood lead levels. To our knowledge, this is the first reported case of congenital lead poisoning secondary to maternal petrol sniffing. We suggest that at-risk pregnancies should be identified, cord blood lead levels tested, and chelation therapy and developmental follow-up offered to affected infants.
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