[Late sequelae of recurrent occupational lead poisoning--the status of the nervous system]

In 44 men with a history of repeated occupational lead poisoning multidisciplinary clinical and laboratory investigations were carried out. The number of lead poisoning episodes was from 2 to 7. Apart from peripheral hypalgesia on the extremities (in 6 cases) no other neurological abnormalities were found. The motor nerve conduction velocity in the median, ulnar, radial, peroneal and tibial nerves was slightly slower in 27 cases and considerably slower in one case. Slowed down conduction velocity was most often observed in 2 nerves (12 cases) and in one nerve (9 cases), less frequently in three (4 cases) and four (2 cases) nerves. In one case this slowing down was found in all five studied nerves. Conduction changes were found in 21 peroneal nerves, 15 ulnar nerves, 12 median nerves, 7 tibial nerves and 2 radial nerves. The authors think that for the evaluation of the condition of the peripheral neuron in cases of past lead poisoning it would be sufficient to determine the conduction velocity in the ulnar and peroneal nerves. Plumbism neuropathy have the character of subclinical lesions not impairing motor skill.