Evaluation and treatment of wrist drop in a patient due to lead poisoning: case report

Lead (Pb) is widely used because of its useful properties and it is ubiquitous in human environment. There are various lead based industries and several workers who are working in these industries without the knowledge of the ill effects of lead and hence not taking proper precautions while handling lead. Many a times, these workers who have accumulated lead in their blood and body organs, are not properly diagnosed and might receive only symptomatic treatment. We describe a thirty-two-year old male, who was working in an unorganized lead based industry for 3 yr, developed severe lead poisoning leading to wrist drop. Since one year the patient received only symptomatic treatment for abdominal pain. His laboratory investigation showed elevated blood lead levels. The chelation therapy using D-Penicillamine brought down his blood lead levels and is on follow up presently. It is required to take proper history about the occupation of the patient, exposed to potentially hazardous levels of lead in the workplace and medically evaluate them.