Related Experiment Video
Updated: Oct 2, 2025

Author Spotlight: Investigating the Tolerance of Cabbage Butterflies to Urban Pollutants
Published on: August 18, 2023
[Severe lead poisoning caused by ayurvedic medicine]
Christina Rebecca Scherbaum1, Thorsten Frank2, Victor Suárez1,3
1Klinik II für Innere Medizin: Nephrologie, Rheumatologie, Diabetologie und Allgemeine Innere Medizin, Medizinische Fakultät und Uniklinik Köln, Universität zu Köln.
History:
We report the case of a young patient who presented to our emergency department with reduced general condition, anemia, and crampy abdominal pain. A previous inpatient workup including abdominal imaging and bone marrow aspiration had not yielded a diagnosis. On inquiry, the patient reported oral ingestion of an Ayurvedic remedy over the course of one month.
Findings:
24-year-old circulatory stable patient in reduced general condition with gray skin coloration and a dark gingival margin. Laboratory testing revealed an increase in transaminases and normocytic anemia. A peripheral blood smear showed basophilic stippling of the erythrocytes. Significantly elevated lead levels were detected in the patient's blood and hair. Toxic lead levels were detected in the ingested preparation.
Diagnosis:
Severe lead poisoning caused by self-medication with an Ayurvedic remedy. Analysis revealed a daily oral lead load of 136 times the maximum permissible dose.
Therapy And Course:
By means of chelation therapy, the blood lead levels were significantly reduced, and there was a complete regression of the complaints as well as a normalization of the laboratory findings.
Conclusion:
Lead has toxic effects on all organ systems of the body and is stored in the bone for decades. Symptoms of poisoning are nonspecific; a thorough history and generous indication for measuring lead levels are helpful for the diagnosis.
Related Concept Videos
Prevention of Further Absorption of Poison
Enhanced Elimination of Poison
Antidotes serve a crucial role in counteracting the effects of poison by inhibiting enzymes responsible for producing harmful drug metabolites. In some cases, these toxic metabolites can be neutralized by endogenous cosubstrates, which are maintained at specific concentrations to prevent interaction with cellular macromolecules and subsequent cell death.
Renal excretion is the...
Anticholinesterase Agents: Poisoning and Treatment
Irreversible agents form a strong bond with the cholinesterase enzyme, making it inactive. The breakdown of the phosphorylated enzyme is...
The Periodic Table and Organismal Elements
Periodic Table Provides Information...
Vitamins
Types of Toxins
Air pollutants, primarily gases, pose significant threats to respiratory health, leading to conditions like hypoxia, lung cancer, and in extreme cases, death.
Environmental pollutants like...
