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A ceramic glazer presenting with extremely high lead levels
1Division of Biochemistry, Ottawa Civic Hospital, Ontario, Canada.
Abstract:
A case of lead poisoning in a ceramic glazer is reported. The patient had an extremely high level of blood lead at 29.5 mumol/l, and many of the laboratory features of lead toxicity: normocytic anaemia with marked basophilic stippling, abnormal blood and urinary porphyrins, and elevated liver enzymes. Surprisingly, the patient had no electromyographic evidence of neurologic involvement. The patient was treated with intravenous EDTA-calcium followed by oral penicillamine. Urinary porphyrin and porphyrin precursor excretion followed an interesting pattern, correlating with the chelator used. This patient illustrates that extremely high blood lead level can be achieved through the oral route in an adult.