[Diagnosis of peripheral neuropathy in lead workers]

Interest in subclinical lead neuropathy has recently intensified. In this paper, we aim at reviewing current methods for the diagnosis of peripheral neuropathy due to lead absorption. Neurological diagnostic methods and blood lead measurement are essential for the diagnosis of clinical lead neuropathy. However, for the diagnosis of subclinical lead neuropathy, the measurement of nerve conduction velocity is considered to be most sensitive and reliable on the group basis. But, on the individual basis, the conduction study is not sensitive enough because of small changes in the velocity often ranging around the lower limit of "normal" values.