Effect of chelation therapy on arrhythmogenic and basal ECG parameters of lead exposed workers

Area of Science:

• Cardiology
• Environmental Health
• Occupational Medicine

Background:

• Lead exposure is a known etiological factor for cardiovascular diseases, including hypertension, atherosclerosis, stroke, and cardiac arrhythmias.
• Occupational lead exposure poses a significant risk to cardiovascular health, particularly affecting cardiac electrical activity.
• Electrocardiogram (ECG) parameters can serve as indicators of cardiac electrical instability and arrhythmia risk.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare basal and arrhythmogenic ECG parameters in occupationally lead-exposed workers before and after chelation therapy.
• To evaluate the impact of acute changes in blood lead levels on ECG parameters.
• To assess the effectiveness of chelation therapy in mitigating lead-induced cardiac electrical abnormalities.

Main Methods:

• A cohort of forty occupationally lead-exposed workers was enrolled in the study.
• Demographic, blood, echocardiographic, and electrocardiographic data were collected and analyzed.
• ECG parameters, including Pmax, P min, P Wave Dispersion, and QT Dispersion, were assessed before and after chelation therapy.

Main Results:

• Significant reductions in Pmax, P min, P Wave Dispersion, and QT Dispersion were observed after chelation therapy compared to pre-treatment values.
• These ECG parameters, identified as arrhythmia predictors, showed marked improvement following chelation.
• The findings indicate a positive effect of chelation treatment on cardiac electrical parameters affected by lead exposure.

Conclusions:

• Lead-exposed workers are at an elevated risk for developing ventricular and atrial arrhythmias.
• Chelation therapy demonstrates a positive and significant effect on ECG parameters associated with arrhythmia risk.
• Reducing blood lead levels through chelation therapy can mitigate cardiac electrical disturbances in occupationally exposed individuals.