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Updated: May 10, 2026
Ultrasonic Assessment of Myocardial Microstructure
Published on: January 14, 2014
Echocardiographic assessment of myocardial function in workers occupationally exposed to lead without clinically
Rafał Poręba1, Paweł Gać1, Małgorzata Poręba2
1Department of Internal Medicine, Occupational Diseases and Hypertension, Wroclaw Medical University, Borowska 213, PL 50-556 Wroclaw, Poland.
Purpose:
The aim of the study was to evaluate echocardiographic changes in workers occupationally exposed to low doses of lead.
Methods:
We enrolled 63 men occupationally exposed to lead into the study (group I). Unexposed group consisted of 49 healthy men (group II). Blood lead concentration (Pb-B) and blood zinc protoporphyrin concentration (ZnPP) were determined. Transthoracic echocardiographic examination was performed.
Results:
In the studied groups, selected on the criterion of occupational exposure to lead, comparative analysis of echocardiographic parameters indicated statistically significant differences. A negative linear correlations between ZnPP and E' was observed in group I. It was proved that a higher concentration of ZnPP is independent risk factor of lowering the E' mean value in group I.
Conclusions:
Occupational exposure to low doses of lead is associated with the occurrence of discreet morphological and functional heart changes that in the future may predispose to disclosed pathology of heart.
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