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[Visual evoked potentials in children cured with sodium-calcium versenate because of high blood lead level--the
Dorota Pojda-Wilczek1, Ewa Herba, Barbara Schneiberg
1Z Katedry i Oddziału Klinicznego Okulistyki Slaskiej Akademii Medycznej Szpital Specjalistyczny nr 1 w Bytomiu.
Insights
Blood lead level (Pb-B) changes can impact visual evoked potentials in children. Persistent high Pb-B levels above 100 microg/l are linked to permanent visual pathway delays.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Toxicology
- Ophthalmology
Context:
- Chronic environmental lead poisoning affects children's neurological development.
- Visual evoked potentials (VEP) are used to assess the integrity of the visual pathway.
Purpose:
- To investigate the relationship between changes in blood lead levels (Pb-B) and visual evoked potentials (VEP) in children.
- To determine if Pb-B reduction influences VEP parameters like P100 latency and amplitude.
Summary:
- 18 children with chronic lead poisoning underwent two VEP examinations over 4 years, with Pb-B levels decreasing significantly after treatment.
- A significant delay in P100 latency was observed in children with Pb-B above 100 microg/l at the second examination.
- No significant changes in P100 amplitude or latency were found in children with Pb-B below 100 microg/l.
Impact:
- Elevated blood lead levels in children can cause permanent, non-progressive delays in visual pathway function.
- Maintaining blood lead levels below 100 microg/l appears crucial for preventing long-term visual pathway damage.
Purpose:
To find out if blood lead level (Pb-B) changes have influence on visual evoked potentials.
Material And Methods:
18 children (36 eyes) treated with CaNa2EDTA because of chronic environmental lead poisoning were examined two times: first at age 2-15.5 (mean 8) years and second 4 years later. For pattern VEP LKC equipment, UTAS E-2000 program and stimulations of 13', 26', 52', 105' were used. P100 amplitude and latency were calculated.
Results:
Pb-B was decreased from 150-486 (mean 262) microg/l to 42-248 (mean 103) microg/l. After 4 years, P100 latency was significantly delayed in children with Pb-B above 100 microg/l at second examination. In children with Pb-B below 100 microg/l no significant differences between two consecutive examinations were observed. There were no significant differences in P100 amplitude.
Conclusions:
Delayed P100 latency of PVEP in children is permanent but non-progressive if Pb-B is lower than 100 microg/l.
